John Thys—AFP/Getty Images

A renowned Ukrainian human-rights lawyer at just 39 years old, Oleksandra Matviichuk has devoted her life to protecting democracy. Oleksandra and her team at the Center for Civil Liberties—a human-rights organization based in Kyiv—have strived to make Ukraine more democratic and document Russia’s war crimes against civilians. Last year, she jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize—the first ever awarded to a Ukrainian citizen or organization. Violence against civilians is a crime against society, democracy, and humanity. Yet it is too often perpetrated with impunity, particularly against women and girls. That’s why the work that Oleksandra and her organization are doing is so urgent and important. By documenting Russia’s atrocities so perpetrators can face prosecution, she is proof that women are not just victims of war; they can be agents of peace and justice.

Clinton, a Democrat, is a former U.S. Senator and Secretary of State

More Must-Reads from TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

Olena Zelenska
Lionel Messi
Aubrey Plaza
Michael B. Jordan
Colleen Hoover
5 stories
EDIT POST