Ms Seve Aydin Izouli, Lawyer at the Paris Bar, and Mr Héctor Estuardo Reyes Chiquín, Guatemalan Lawyer, Co-recipients of the 2025 UIA/LexisNexis Rule of Law Award
The Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA – International Association of Lawyers), in cooperation with LexisNexis, had the honour of formally presenting the UIA/LexisNexis Rule of Law Award 2025 to Ms Seve Aydin-Izouli, a lawyer and member of the Paris Bar, and to Mr. Héctor Estuardo Reyes Chiquín, a Guatemalan lawyer at the Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos (CALDH). The Award was publicly presented on 29 October 2025, at the opening ceremony of the UIA 69th Congress, held in Guadalajara, Mexico.
“This award recognises and honours those who dedicate themselves to upholding the rule of law, often at the risk of their own safety, and underscores the UIA and Lexis Nexis’s commitment to a world in which fundamental rights and freedoms are respected”, recalled Martin Pradel, Director General of the UIA Institute for the Rule of Law (UIA-IROL). “This Award celebrates those who see the law, or legal profession, not simply as a job, but as a moral force. They are people who take the principles we all believe in and turn them into actions that improve lives”, stated Ian McDougall, President of the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation.
Seve Aydin Izouli, a Doctor of International Law and a member of the Paris Bar since 2002, has devoted the majority of her professional practice to defending refugees, political prisoners, and victims of persecution. She chaired the Damascus Declaration in France and is currently a member of the Kurdish Institute of Paris. Ms Aydin Izouli is particularly recognised for her tireless efforts to raise awareness of minority rights and for her work on behalf of civilian populations in Rojava, northern Syria, where she is dedicated to teaching human rights at the university level, guided by the conviction that the true foundation of the rule of law lies, first and foremost, in the legal education of younger generations. This award therefore acknowledges her long-standing commitment to promoting the rule of law, justice, and democratic values, both at the local level and within institutions.
“Today, there has been a fundamental change in Syria, but we know that there is still a long way to go. This award gives me renewed strength to continue my fight. I make you this promise,” Me Aydin Izouli in her video address delivered during the ceremony.
Héctor Estuardo Reyes Chiquín is a lawyer and notary public in Guatemala, with more than 20 years of experience in strategic litigation before national and regional courts, as well as in providing legal support to victims of serious human rights violations. He is a member of the team at the Centro de Acción Legal por los Derechos Humanos (CALDH) and a consultant for Lawyers Without Borders Canada. Although often confronted with hostile environments and particularly challenging conditions, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the defense and promotion of the rule of law and human rights, notably through the provision of rigorous and principled legal assistance to Indigenous communities, human rights defenders, community leaders, members of the judiciary, and journalists who have been unjustly criminalised. This Award recognises his consistency and dedication.
“I would like to take this opportunity to ensure that, through this Award, the risks we face and the conditions of vulnerability under which we carry out our work as human rights lawyers are made visible, and that it may serve as source of support for all my colleagues who, like me, continue to fight for a genuine judicial system, for a democratic state, and for the right to a fair country”, Reyes Chiquín declared during his address. He also emphasized the importance of continued support from UIA-IROL for the work carried out daily by the many legal professionals who, both in our country and in exile, strive to protect and uphold the rule of law in Guatemala.
“_The co-recipient award winners stand as a powerful reminder that defending the rule of law’s principles is not a theoretical pursuit, it is often difficult, sometimes dangerous, and deeply personal. Yet through their efforts, they have brought hope, dignity, and justice to others, often in circumstances where those values were under direct threa_t”, emphasized Ian McDougall. “At LexisNexis, we believe that the rule of law is the foundation on which free and fair societies are built. When it is upheld, people are safe, rights are protected, and opportunity can flourish. That is why we sponsor these awards — to honour those who dedicate themselves to defending these principles when it matters most”, he continued.
“Through [the 2025 award recipients], the UIA and LexisNexis pay tribute to all lawyers across the world who uphold the rule of law through their personal commitment”, pointed out Mr. Pradel.
The organisers of the Award hope that this distinction will contribute to bring international attention to the laureates’ engagement and fights, while encouraging other members of the legal community to support them and get involved both in their respective countries and beyond.
The call for nominations for the 2026 UIA Rule of Law Award in collaboration with LexisNexis will be launched in February 2026.