Magnitsky Awards
Winner’s Bio

Anaïse Kanimba is a global development expert and human rights activist. She is a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, during which her father, Paul Rusesabagina, the real-life hero of the movie Hotel Rwanda and recipient of the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, saved more than 1,200 people. In 2020, her father was forcibly rendered to Rwanda and imprisoned for speaking out against the tyranny of the Rwandan president. Anaïse, along with her family, led the international #FreeRusesabagina campaign to secure the release of her father, who was successfully freed after 939 days of illegal imprisonment in March 2023. In this role, Anaïse advocated against and wrote about wrongful detention, transnational repression, and autocratic leadership for a range of publications, including The Washington Post, the Daily Beast and CNN. In addition to dedicating her time to social justice, Anaïse works at Ridgely Walsh, a boutique public affairs firm that advises transformational companies and causes.