2024 Human Rights Defender Award to Peace Activist Sondos Alhoot

Written by: Sylvi Mäkeläinen

The Andrew Blane Memorial Fund for Human Rights Defenders stands as a tribute to the enduring legacy of Andrew Blane, a human rights activist who dedicated half of his life to making the world a better place. In remembrance of Andrew, his family instituted this fund to continue his life’s mission of improving the world. In honor of his legacy, Kota has established a fund to support at least one human rights defender every year.

On February 16th, our Jaana Rehnstrom of Kota conducted an interview with Sondos Alhot, an Arab Israeli advocate. The current situation in Israel is marked by heightened tensions, with both sides allegedly violating human rights. The crime rate has surged, resulting in a regrettable number of deaths of Arab Israelis.

Alhot, an esteemed educator with experience working alongside Jewish and Arab children, focuses on empowering women, advocating for linguistic proficiency, and and instilling values of equality, particularly in the realm of education. Her ultimate goal is to foster collaboration between Jewish and Arab communities, with a strategic emphasis on starting this process at the childhood level.

Alhot previously resided in the Arab sector of Jerusalem. During her time living there, she observed deficiencies in infrastructure and human rights. Despite constituting 40% of the population, Arab citizens are noticeably excluded from political and civil engagement, as the city is predominantly governed by Jewish authorities.

Driven by her vision for positive change, Alhot aspired to secure a place on the Jerusalem City Council, potentially becoming the first woman with Arab roots to do so. Her mission involved influencing Arab citizens to actively participate in political processes while challenging prevailing stereotypes among the Jewish community.

Alhot focuses on empowering women, advocating for linguistic proficiency, and instilling values of equality, particularly in the realm of education. Her ultimate goal is to foster collaboration between Jewish and Arab communities, with a strategic emphasis on starting this process at the childhood level.

Sondos Alhot's notable efforts deserve recognition and support as she navigates the intricate challenges within the complex sociopolitical landscape of Israel. Her determination to break down barriers and promote unity through education and empowerment serves as a step of hope for a more harmonious future in Israel.

You can watch Alhot’s interview with Jaana Rehnstrom here.

To read more about her see the article by The Times of Israel and The Jewish Chronicle.