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Axana Soltan Honoured with Palace of Justice Lifetime Achievement Award

January 23, 2025

Axana Soltan has made history as the first Afghan-American woman to receive the esteemed Lifetime Achievement Justitia Award from the Palace of Justice, seated in the Supreme Court of Vienna, Austria. This recognition honours her extraordinary contributions to international law, human rights advocacy, and global justice.

A distinguished human rights lawyer, Soltan holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from the United States, an LLM from George Washington University School of Law and is currently an Eisenhower Global Scholar studying Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government. Her groundbreaking work in legal reform, gender equity, and education policy has positioned her as a formidable global leader. Soltan was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 List in 2024 and was the recipient of the US Congress Literacy Award.

A Lifetime Achievement Justitia Award is given to individuals who have achieved outstanding accomplishments and made significant, lasting contributions to their fields over a long period.

We asked Axana what the award means to her and what she hopes to achieve during her time at Kellogg:

“Receiving this award was a tremendous honour. Standing alongside some of the world’s most esteemed judges, legal scholars, and advocates, I was reminded that this moment was not just about me but about the voices I strive to amplify and the barriers we continue to break. As a human rights lawyer, this award represents more than an accolade; it symbolises a lifelong commitment to advancing justice, empowering the marginalised, and challenging the status quo on a global scale.

At Kellogg, I look forward to further refining my expertise in public policy, engaging with brilliant minds, and leveraging my platform to drive systemic legal and educational reform. This journey is not just about scholarship—it is about building a world where justice is not a privilege, but a universal right.”

The whole Kellogg community wishes Axana heartfelt congratulations on her award.