CHSaskia Leber has been awarded the 2026 Prix Courage by the Swiss newspaper Beobachter for her campaign against victim-blaming following incidents of sexual violence. After escaping two attempted rapes, Leber faced institutional resistance, including police inaction despite known threats and a social benefits office denying her compensation because she did not clearly distance herself from the perpetrator in chat messages. She challenged these decisions legally, and the Basel-City Court of Appeal ruled in her favor, explicitly recognizing her status as a victim and attributing sole responsibility to the offender. The award includes a prize of 10,000 Swiss francs and highlights her efforts to ensure victims are taken seriously by authorities. Additionally, Paolo and Gianni Campolo received a special prize for saving 20 people during a fire.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames state institutions as failing and uses emotionally charged terms like 'shocking' to criticize bureaucratic reasoning, aligning with progressive advocacy for victim rights.
