Ukraine awards highest honour to British barrister
International Bar Association Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) director Baroness Helena Kennedy KC has been awarded the Order of Merit of Ukraine of the III degree by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The award was conferred on Ukraine’s Independence Day (24 August).
The eminent British barrister, life peer, and member of the House of Lords, was given the award as a mark of the “deep gratitude” of the Ukrainian people, Andriy Yermak (head of the office of the President of Ukraine) said.
“It is a recognition of your lifelong commitment to justice, human rights, and the rule of law. Your strong voice in defending truth and dignity has inspired many, and your support for the Bring Kids Back UA initiative has given hope to families separated by war,” he added.
Solidarity
The solidarity of the barrister was a reminder that the struggle for freedom and justice was shared by friends around the world, he said.
The Order of Merit of Ukraine is a honorary award given to individuals of any nationality who demonstrate outstanding contributions to Ukraine in economics, science, culture, the military, and public or political service.
Baroness Kennedy is the first Briton to receive this honour from President Zelenskyy.
Other recent recipients include, in 2024, former Irish MEP Patrick Cox, ex-President of the European Parliament, and Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in 2023.
Baroness Kennedy said: “I am deeply humbled to receive this honour and I accept it on behalf of all my colleagues in the law who are seeking justice in our troubled world.”