Taban Shoresh, founder and CEO of the non-profit organization The Lotus Flower and a Kurdish genocide survivor, was awarded the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Nansen Refugee Award on December 16.

“This has been a meaningful year for me personally, with the honor of receiving the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for the MENA region this month,” Shoresh told Kurdistan Chronicle. “It is a recognition that reflects not just my journey, but the collective effort, trust, and compassion that surround The Lotus Flower.

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“I’m incredibly proud to share that our latest numbers show our impact has now reached over 110,000 women and girls.

This milestone still feels humbling to say out loud, and it simply would not have been possible without support. The kind support we received has helped create safe spaces, unlock opportunities, and open new pathways to healing and independence for so many women and girls.”Last year, Shoresh was also awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles III.

“Next year will mark our 10th anniversary, and I’m so looking forward to celebrating this milestone and reflecting on how far we’ve come and embracing the possibilities ahead as we continue to grow our impact,” Shoresh added. 

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“We are sad to see the current High Commissioner Filippo Grandi leave in January 2026. His leadership in supporting lived experience organizations has been immense and we wish him well for the future. I’d also like to congratulate Barham Salih, who will be the new High Commissioner. As a Kurd, I’m very proud to see a fellow Kurd leading us through lived experience.” 

Taban Shoresh was imprisoned when she was just four years old and narrowly escaped being buried alive during the genocidal Anfal Campaign. Her family moved to the UK in the 1980s after her father, Sami Shoresh, a poet and Peshmerga fighter, fled abroad with the help of Amnesty International.