Adam Bodnar, Commissioner for Human Rights and his Office are this year's laureates of the Norwegian Rafto Prize awarded since 1987 to human rights defenders across the world. Professor Thorolf Rafto’s work was focused on defending human rights, in particular in the countries of Central Europe: Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. The Rafto Prize awarded in 2018 draws attention to the issue of threats to democracy and human rights in Poland.

"The award is not just an award to my work and the institution, but mostly a support from your community given to the Polish civil society, academia, judges and lawyers fighting for rule of law, juridical independence, pluralism and protection of minorities in Poland" - Adam Bodnar