Detained Thai human rights lawyer Anon Nampa has been nominated for the 2026 Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) Human Rights Award, said Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). 

He was nominated for the Award by the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar Council of Ireland, both of which believe that Anon should be released and allowed to return to work as a human rights lawyer.

The CCBE Human Rights Award is given to lawyers or lawyers’ organizations that have “demonstrated outstanding commitment and sacrifice” to uphold fundamental values and human rights. It is given each year by the CCBE President at its Plenary Session.

Lawyers can be nominated for the Award regardless of geographical location, but must be nominated by a bar council or law society that is a CCBE member or observer. The winner is selected by a permanent committee from a list selected by the CCBE Human Rights Committee.

In 2023, the Award was given to Chinese lawyers Hang Tung Chow, Xu Zhiyong, and Ding Jiaxi for their work defending human rights and the rule of law. In 2024, it was given to the Legal Clinic of the Panzi Foundation for their work supporting survivors of sexual violence in the Congo. In 2025, it was given to Tunisian human rights lawyer Sonia Dahmani, who has been illegitimately detained under inhuman conditions for over 2 years, for defending human rights, freedom of expression, and the independence of the legal profession.

Anon has been detained pending appeal at the Bangkok Remand Prison since 26 September 2023. For his activism, he faces a total prison sentence of around 31 years and 9 months for 11 counts of royal defamation, 1 count of sedition, 1 count of violating the Emergency Decree, and 1 count of contempt of court. TLHR said that since the beginning of his detention, Anon’s lawyers have filed 113 bail requests and 54 appeals following a bail denial. All requests and appeals were denied.

Despite being detained, Anon continues to represent other activists also facing charges for political expression. Courts have attempted to prevent him from representing his clients, but the Lawyers Council of Thailand have said that there is no regulation prohibiting a lawyer facing a criminal charge from representing their client when a final verdict has not been delivered. In one case, a head judge at the Thanyaburi Provincial Court said he cannot be barred from representing other activists as he has not been disbarred.

In October 2024, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted an opinion that Anon’s detention is arbitrary and violates international human rights law. The Working Group requested “the Government of Thailand to take the steps necessary to remedy the situation of Mr. Nampa without delay. … Taking into account all the circumstances of the case, the appropriate remedy would be to release Mr. Nampa immediately and accord him an enforceable right to compensation”.