The Art of Changemakers

The Art of Changemakers multidisciplinary exhibition by artists Mary Moynihan and Aisha Hamdulay features photography, poetry, and storytelling and is a visual and poetical reflection on the stories of Human Rights Defenders today. The Art of Changemakers highlights the stories of the five inspirational Human Rights Defenders honoured in 2025 with the Front Line Defenders Annual Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.

Artists Mary Moynihan and Aisha Hamdulay have created a series of artworks to accompany the stories of the five human rights defenders. Artworks by Mary Moynihan consist of photography, poetry and text and a series of artworks inspired by statements from the  ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’. Artworks by Aisha Hamdulay consist of photography and poetry. The artistic work and stories are a celebration of the work of human rights defenders and a reflection on peace, equality and human rights.

The exhibition is a collaboration between Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality and Front Line Defenders with the dlr Mill Theatre, Dundrum, for the annual international Irish Arts and Human Rights festival.

Each year Front Line Defenders announces the five winners of its top distinction, the Front Line Defenders Annual Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. The award was established in 2005 to honour the work of human rights defenders (HRDs) who are courageously making outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of the human rights of others, often at great personal risk to themselves.

The laureates for the 2025 Front Line Defenders Annual Award come from Benin, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Western Sahara and they were honoured at a special ceremony held in Dublin in 2025.  The laureates are:

Africa: Luc Agblakou, human rights educator and defender for LGBTIQ+ rights in Benin

Americas: The Movement for Human Rights, Peace and Global Justice (MONDHA),  and NGO improving the living conditions of vulnerable communities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti

Asia and the Pacific: Arnon Nampa, human rights lawyer who volunteers with Thai Lawyers for Human Rights

Europe and Central Asia: Sharifa Madrakhimova, Uzbekistani woman human rights defender, journalist, and respected community leader

Middle East and North Africa: Mhamed Hali, dedicated human rights defender and a member of the Sahrawi Association of Victims of Grave Human Rights Violations committed by the Moroccan State (ASVDH)

The Award focuses international attention on the work and struggles of HRDs, providing a greater national and international platform to speak about and advocate for the human rights issues they are defending.

Laureates are selected from among scores of candidates who are put forward in a secure, public nomination process carried out towards the end of each year and Award winners are announced on the day of the Award Ceremony in Dublin the following year. Laureates receive a modest financial prize, a protection grant  and support from Front Line Defenders teams on digital and physical security, advocacy, visibility, well-being and more.

“These laureates are rays of light in some very dark situations of repression, discrimination and detention. Their steadfast commitment to human rights provides the solutions we need to bring humanity back from the brink, and to create a better, more just world. Governments must begin to see human rights defenders, not as a threat to their grasp on power, but as positive changemakers who can improve societies and defend the human rights of their citizens.”  Alan Glasgow, Executive Director, 2024

Gallery Opening times:  Tuesday-Saturday 11am to 4pm.  Closed for lunch 1.30-2.30pm