The One Young World Politician of the Year Award recognises three outstanding politicians under the age of 35, who are using their positions to have a positive impact on young people in their communities and countries.
The panel of expert judges has been invited by One Young World to choose three winners who are doing groundbreaking work as young politicians, elevating the opportunities for young leaders in politics.
The judges for the 2025 award are:
Laura Chinchilla
Former President Laura Chinchilla is a political scientist with a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University.
She was the first woman to be elected president of Costa Rica (2010-2014). Previously, she served as minister of public security (1996-1998), congresswoman (2002-2006), minister of justice (2006-2008), and vice president (2006-2008). During her political career, Mrs. Chinchilla prompted police and justice reform measures to tackle crime and violence, digital and open government, the promotion of women's rights, and early childhood protection. She also promoted environmental sustainability policies, especially on preserving marine biodiversity, for which she was distinguished with international awards.
Mrs. Chinchilla has worked as a consultant with various international organizations, such as: the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). She has been part of the advisory boards of the UNDP`s Human Development Report and the Global Happiness Report and is a board member of the International Olympic Committee, the World Leadership Alliance - Club de Madrid, the Inter-American Dialogue, the Concordia Summit, and the Euro-America Foundation. Mrs. Chinchilla has headed various Electoral Observation Missions in the Americas and chaired the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age. She has taught at the Institute of Politics and Public Policy of Georgetown University (USA), the Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey (México), and the Universidade de Sao Paulo (Brazil).
Aya Chebbi
Aya Chebbi is a Pan-African feminist and diplomat committed to the liberation of African women and girls. She rose to prominence as a voice for democracy during 2010/2011 Tunisia’s Revolution, which toppled a 23 year dictatorship. She then served as the first ever African Union Special Envoy on Youth and the youngest diplomat at the Chairperson’s Cabinet (2018 – 2021) where she impacted over one million youth. In 2024, she was appointed United Nations Global Champion on Conflict Related Sexual Violence and Youth Liaison to the Office of Special Representative and Under Secretary General.
She served on the World Refugee Council, Robert Bosch Stiftung Advisory, WHO Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, Council of the Africa Public Health Foundation among others which produced trailblazing reports in the humanitarian, health, gender and development fields. She currently serves as Member of the Advisory Board of ten23 health, a Swiss company that develops, manufactures and tests tomorrow’s sterile medicines for the pharmaceutical industry. She is also Founder & President of Nalafem, the fastest growing platform of women who lead. She received the Bill and Melinda Gates Campaign Award, and was named in Forbes Africa’s 50 Most Powerful Women. Aya is also a podcaster and hosts I AM NALA and DW Africa Link.
Hasina Safi
Hasina Safi is a professional leader, well known civil society and women rights activist. She is an expert with considerable and proven experience of over 20 years in development practices focused on organizational development, development of policies and programs, women economic empowerment, capacity building, advocacy for women’s rights, civil society, peace building and human rights.
She started her first formal struggle at the age of 15 teaching English as a second language to Afghan Refugee women. During the past two decades she has worked in different national and international organizations at the leadership levels i.e. International Rescue Committee, Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees, International Organization on Migration, Afghan Women’s Educational Center, United Nations Development Program, Afghan Women’s Network, High Peace Council, member of peace negotiation team(2018), Acting minister of information and culture Islamic republic of Afghanistan and lastly serving as Acting minister of women affairs Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Hasina Safi has been one of the strategic advocators for women’s rights, representing Afghan women and civil society in several National, regional and International events, conferences, symposiums on Afghan Women such as peace consultation jirga, traditional jirga, London conference, Kabul conference and senior official meetings, peace Jirga etc.
She has been nominated to N-Peace Award and has received Bibi Khadija Awards, prior to many other awards over her various positions.
She is a great supporter of education; she believes quality education is the key solution towards the sustainability of a nation with commitments to transfer skills, experience and expertise gained through practice. Her journey towards success never lacked challenges – not something to doubt about an Afghan woman’s life.