Legendary Human Rights Advocate Natan Sharansky Awarded 2020 Genesis Prize

The Genesis Prize Foundation has announced legendary human rights advocate Natan Sharansky as the 2020 Genesis Prize Laureate. The Selection Committee noted his extraordinary lifelong struggle for political and religious freedoms, emphasizing the relevance of his work in today’s world. “Natan Sharansky is one of the great human rights advocates of our lifetime,” said Stan Polovets, co-founder and chairman of The Genesis Prize Foundation. “At great personal sacrifice, he fought for the rights and dignity of all ethnicities, religions and nationalities. Today, as we witness democratic principles being challenged and human rights, along with freedoms of thought and expression, denied to so many, Natan’s example is an inspiration to all those struggling for democracy. While this is particularly true in parts of the world under authoritarian rule, even in democracies our freedoms cannot be taken for granted. Natan’s ideals and vision are as relevant today as they were in the 1980s when he took on the totalitarian Soviet regime – and won.”