Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska

Mirjana Lazarova Trajkovska, Macedonia

"As President of the State Electoral Commission (SEC), Ms. Trajkovska bravely stood up to threats and intimidation from the Interior Minister at the time, who tried to force her to falsify the results of the 2002 parliamentary elections in favor of the ruling party. Ms. Trajkovska refused to give in to the intimidation and the ruling party was ousted in elections deemed free and fair by international observers, thereby strengthening the independent status of the SEC and the integrity of the democratic system in Macedonia. Since 2003, Ms. Trajkovska has served as a Constitutional Court Judge. She previously served as Head of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Assistant Interior Minister."

• White House "Champion of Freedom" (2005)