Protection International, ProtectDefenders.eu and the Centre for Applied Human Rights of the University of York have been promoting a Human Rights Defenders Poetry Challenge:
This poetry challenge is for all activists and artists irrespective of previous experience with this form of art. As the global pandemic continues, we’d like to encourage those that work in support of human rights to take a moment to reflect on the past year, take a break from the current context in which we are situated and ponder about where we should be go from here.
We are accepting poetry of all styles (haiku, slam poems, free verse, limericks, etc.) and multimedia submissions are also welcome. Poems can be submitted in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swahili and Thai, and the top poems in each language will be published in a digital booklet. The top three poems overall will win a cash prize, the authors be granted free access to our e-learning course on preventative protection and security and they will also be invited to a virtual poetry reading with key stakeholders and celebrity guests. The Poetry Challenge is completely free to participate, with no submission or entry fees.
More detailed information about the poetry challenge can be found on Protection International’s website or within our sharable explainer document (available in all Poetry Challenge languages).
We have also prepared a social media kit including draft posts and graphics in multiple languages.
Contact Meredith Veit (meredith.veit@protectioninternational.org) or Tommaso Ripani (tommaso.ripani@protectioninternational.org) if you have any questions!
Deadline for submissions: 30 November 2021
For the first results see: https://www.protectioninternational.org/en/news/human-rights-defenders-poetry-challenge-finalists
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 
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