Risers of the Week

Oleksandra Matviichuk — defending democracy in Ukraine and beyond

Oleksandra Matviichuk is a Ukrainian human-rights lawyer and head of the Center for Civil Liberties, which received the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for documenting war crimes and abuse of power in Ukraine. At a November 2025 event in Taipei, she warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “a war between two systems: authoritarianism and democracy.” She argued that President Vladimir Putin’s goal is to prove that “freedom, democracy [and] human rights … are fake values,” stressing that Moscow’s success would encourage other authoritarian leaders worldwide.

After Russia’s 2022 invasion, Matviichuk co-founded the “Tribunal for Putin” initiative to document international crimes across Ukraine, building a record for eventual accountability.

Why she’s a Riser

By linking the defense of Ukraine to the global struggle for democracy, Matviichuk reframes the war as a fight for universal values. She urges governments and citizens to support Ukraine as a bulwark against authoritarianism — making the case that what happens in Kyiv matters in every democracy on earth.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya — exiled leader of Belarus’s democratic movement

Tsikhanouskaya became the face of Belarus’s pro-democracy movement after her husband, blogger Siarhei Tsikhanouski, was imprisoned for asking citizens how they lived. She registered as a presidential candidate in his place and traveled across Belarus, mobilizing tens of thousands. After a stolen election in August 2020 — during which authorities shut down the internet and beat peaceful protesters — she was forced into exile with 15 minutes to choose between prison and leaving the country.

In her February 18, 2026 keynote at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, she highlighted more than 1,200 political prisoners in Belarus and called on the world to “demand the unconditional release of all political prisoners.” She linked Belarus’s fate to Ukraine’s, noting that Belarusians sabotaged railways and volunteers fight alongside Ukrainians: a free Belarus, she argues, means a safer Ukraine.

Why she’s a Riser

Tsikhanouskaya’s personal sacrifice and continued advocacy from exile show that democracy movements do not end at a country’s borders. Her call for solidarity reminds us that freedom anywhere depends on standing up to dictatorship everywhere.

Chloe Cheung — youngest Hong Kong dissident advocating from exile

Chloe Cheung joined Hong Kong’s 2019 pro-democracy protests at age 14, facing tear gas and rubber bullets as millions marched peacefully. After China’s 2020 National Security Law criminalized dissent, she chose exile in the United Kingdom over silence or imprisonment. From the UK, she urges the British Parliament to push for the release of Hong Kong’s political prisoners and to impose targeted sanctions.

In 2023, Hong Kong authorities placed a HK$1 million bounty on her head. She describes constant harassment and threats in the UK, and highlights that even relatives of dissidents have been jailed — a tactic designed to silence those who have already left.

Why she’s a Riser

Cheung demonstrates that even young people can become powerful voices for democracy. By continuing to speak out despite a bounty and threats, she shows unwavering commitment to freedom and human rights — and proves that no age is too young to stand for what is right.

Naama Barak Wolfman & Kefaya Masarwa — Israeli and Palestinian women rising together for peace

Naama Barak Wolfman (Israeli) and Kefaya Masarwa (Palestinian citizen of Israel) are activists in Women Wage Peace (WWP). Alongside Reem Alhajajra, director of the Palestinian women’s movement Women of the Sun, they advocate for a negotiated end to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

In late November 2025, Wolfman, Masarwa and Alhajajra led a delegation to Brussels, meeting members of the European Parliament and EU officials including Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Hadja Lahbib and EU External Action Service Managing Director Hélène le Gal, who signed the movements’ joint Mothers’ Call for peace. Their trip culminated in an audience with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, where they presented their call for an end to violence and discussed women’s role in peacebuilding. They also addressed the Belgian Senate and were interviewed by national media.

Why they’re Risers

Wolfman, Masarwa and Alhajajra exemplify cross-community cooperation at a moment when walls feel easier to build than bridges. By standing together, they demonstrate that peace is possible when people refuse to be divided and demand that leaders act — and they take that message to the halls of power rather than waiting to be invited in.