Posts Tagged ‘digest of human rights awards and laureates’

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The 2024 Right Livelihood Laureates

October 8, 2024

2024 Right Livelihood Laureates face off against the marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples, Israel’s illegal settlements, dangerous development projects in Mozambique and human rights violations committed with impunity to demand a just future for all.

THE 2024 LAUREATES:

Joan Carling “For raising Indigenous voices in the face of the global ecological breakdown and her leadership in defending people, lands and culture.” Joan Carling is a Filipino Indigenous activist who has been defending the rights of Indigenous Peoples for more than 30 years. Her work spans grassroots and international levels, focusing on human rights, sustainable development, climate justice and the fight against land exploitation. [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/2016/11/02/joan-carling-indigenous-land-rights-defender-from-the-philippines/]

Issa Amro / Youth Against Settlements “For their steadfast non-violent resistance to Israel’s illegal occupation, promoting Palestinian civic action through peaceful means.” Issa Amro is a Palestinian human rights activist who has dedicated his life to peaceful resistance against Israeli occupation in the West Bank city of Hebron. Together with the activist group he founded, Youth Against Settlements, he strives to create a future where Palestinians live freely and with dignity. [https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/issa-amro/]

Anabela Lemos / Justiça Ambiental! “For empowering communities to stand up for their right to say no to exploitative mega-projects and demand environmental justice.” Anabela Lemos is a Mozambican environmental activist and Director of Justiça Ambiental! (JA!), an organisation committed to fighting corporate-led projects that displace communities, damage livelihoods and intensify climate change in Mozambique.

Forensic Architecture “For pioneering digital forensic methods to ensure justice and accountability for victims and survivors of human and environmental rights violations.” Forensic Architecture is a pioneering research agency dedicated to uncovering and documenting the truth about environmental and human rights violations using cutting-edge open-source investigation and digital modelling techniques.

https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/awards/97238E26-A05A-4A7C-8A98-0D267FDDAD59

“Amid the chaos of violence, greed and injustice that is affecting so many people around the world, the 2024 Right Livelihood Laureates reignite hope,” said Ole von Uexkull, Right Livelihood’s Executive Director.

https://preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webview/326585/134181621937997150

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Václav Havel Human Rights Prize 2024 to Venezuelan rights defender María Corina Machado.

October 1, 2024
2024 Václav Havel Prize awarded to Venezuelan political figure and rights defender María Corina Machado

The twelfth Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has been awarded to leading Venezuelan political figure and rights defender María Corina Machado.

See https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/awards/7A8B4A4A-0521-AA58-2BF0-DD1B71A25C8D

Ms Machado is a co-founder and former leader of Venezuelan vote-monitoring and citizens’ rights group Súmate, a former member of Venezuela’s National Assembly and currently the National Co-ordinator of the Vente Venezuela political movement. Barred from running in Venezuela’s recent Presidential election, she went into hiding in August 2024, declaring that she feared for her life, her freedom, and that of her fellow citizens.

Opening the award ceremony, PACE President Theodoros Rousopoulos pointed out that today, 6 of the 11 previous winners of the Havel Prize are in prison, and urged their immediate release. “These individuals committed only one ‘crime’ – they simply wanted to make their voices heard, to share their vision of a just and free society.”

Making the award to Ms Corina Machado’s daughter Ana, the President underlined that the Council of Europe “stands alongside those who risk their lives to make our societies more democratic and just”.

Ms Corina Machado herself, addressing the Assembly remotely from Venezuela, said she was “deeply moved, honoured and grateful” to be the first Latin American to win the distinction. “I want to dedicate this recognition to the millions of Venezuelans who, every day, embody Havel’s values and ideas – some without even realising it.” Her movement had demonstrated “the victory of democrats over dictatorship” in Venezuela’s recent elections, she said, declaring: “Today our struggle continues, because the truth persists until it prevails.”

The two other shortlisted nominees were Azerbaijani human rights defender and activist Akif Gurbanov, who is currently in pre-trial detention in Baku, and Georgian feminist activist and human rights lawyer Babutsa Pataraia, who was present at the ceremony.

As part of the ceremony, the Assembly was also addressed by Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was being held in detention in Russia when he was awarded the Havel Prize in 2022. He was released in August of this year as part of a prisoner exchange.

https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/2024-v%C3%A1clav-havel-prize-awarded-to-venezuelan-political-figure-and-rights-defender-mar%C3%ADa-corina-machado

https://www.dw.com/en/venezuela-opposition-figure-wins-top-european-rights-prize/a-70363263

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Daouda Diallo, the 2022 recipient of the Martin Ennals Award, abducted

September 27, 2024

A prominent human rights defender in Burkina Faso has been abducted by unknown individuals, rights groups have said. Activists say it could be the latest attempt by the military government to target dissidents using a controversial law.

Daouda Diallo, 2022 recipient of the Martin Ennals international human rights award, was abducted on Friday in the capital Ouagadougou after visiting the passport department where he had gone to renew his documents, according to the local Collective Against Impunity and Stigmatisation of Communities civic group, which Mr Diallo founded.

https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/laureates/ca7f1556-8f73-4b48-b868-b93a3df9b4e1

His captors – in civilian clothing – accosted him as he tried to enter his car and took him to “an unknown location”, the group said in a statement on Friday, warning Mr Diallo’s health could be at risk and demanding his “immediate and unconditional” release.

Amnesty International’s west and central Africa office said the abduction was “presumably (for him) to be forcibly conscripted” after he was listed last month among those ordered to join Burkina Faso’s security forces in their fight against jihadi violence as provided by a new law.Right now, civil society activists, human rights defenders and even leaders of opposition political parties do not dare express freely their opinions

“Amnesty International denounces the use of conscription to intimidate independent voices in #BurkinaFaso and calls for the release of Dr Diallo,” the group said via X, formerly known as Twitter.

Earlier this year, Burkina Faso’s junta announced the “general mobilisation” decree to recapture territories lost as jihadi attacks continue to ravage the landlocked country.

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/national/human-rights-activist-abducted-in-burkina-faso-group-says/ar-AA1kT5Gr

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The Rafto Prize 2024 to Cuban ‘artivist’ Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara

September 19, 2024

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara. Foto: María Matienzo

The Rafto Prize 2024 is awarded to Cuban artist and activist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara for his fearless opposition to authoritarianism through art.

https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/laureates/05024dea-3b59-42d7-8509-bd0c7f4f6e87

36-year-old Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is a Afro-Cuban self-taught artist. He comes from a poor and marginalized neighbourhood in Havana and uses sculptural and performance art to protest violations against freedom of expression. He has been arrested multiple times for his art and activism and is currently in prison.

Otero Alcántara is the general coordinator of the San Isidro Movement – a constellation of artists, journalists and academics promoting freedom of expression. It was established in 2018 as a reaction to Decree 349. The decree requires artists to obtain advance permission for public and private exhibitions and performances. Decree 349 is one of the legal instruments used to silence artists, musicians and performers who are critical to the Cuban government.

Otero Alcántara’s artivism has come at a high personal cost. Since 2016 he has been the subject of interrogations, political persecution and arrests, and his art has been confiscated and destroyed by state security officers.

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara creates sculptures, drawings, and performative art. He is currently serving a five-year sentence in the high-security prison Guanajay outside of Havana.

Expressing oneself through art: A basic human right

Despite this, he continued his artivism through performance pieces to raise awareness of Cuba’s ongoing repression of independent artists and activists. Otero Alcántara was detained on July 11, 2021, after posting a video online of his planned participation in the protests. In 2022, he was convicted for “contempt, public disorder and insults to national symbols”. He is currently serving a five-year sentence in Guanajay maximum security prison outside Havana.

The Rafto prize 2024 aims to highlight the importance of the work of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and the basic human right to expressing oneself through art. We call upon the Cuban government to stop the persecution of artists and human rights defenders. We also urge them to free Otero Alcántara and all political prisoners in Cuba.

https://www.rafto.no/en/news/the-rafto-prize-2024-to-artivist-luis-manuel-otero-alcantara

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Three shortlisted candidates for the 2024 Václav Havel Prize of the CoE

August 29, 2024

August 27, 2024

The selection panel of the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, which rewards outstanding civil society action in defence of human rights in Europe and beyond, has announced the shortlist for the 2024 Award.

Meeting in Prague, the panel – made up of independent figures from the world of human rights and chaired by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodoros Rousopoulos – decided to shortlist the following three nominees, in alphabetical order:

Akif Gurbanov, Azerbaijan

The nominee is a human rights defender, political activist and active member of the Azerbaijani civil society. He is the co-founder of the Institute of Democratic Initiative (IDI) and of the Third Republic Platform. He was arrested in March 2024 in a wave of arrests targeting journalists and activists in the country.

María Corina Machado, Venezuela

The nominee is a leading political figure in Venezuela engaged in denouncing human rights abuses in her country and defending democracy and the rule of law. She is the co-founder of the Venezuelan volunteer civil organisation ‘Súmate’ for civil and political freedom, rights and citizen participation.

Babutsa Pataraia, Georgia

The nominee is a leading feminist activist and human rights lawyer in Georgia. She is the Director of ‘Sapari’, an NGO focusing on women’s rights and providing support for victims of violence since 2013. She has worked for over a decade to fight against feminicide, sexual violence against women, and sexual harassment.

https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/awards/7A8B4A4A-0521-AA58-2BF0-DD1B71A25C8D

Three candidates shortlisted for the 2024 Václav Havel Prize

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Nominations for the 2024 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award now open

August 22, 2024

Human Rights First announced a call for nominations for the 2024 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award. Nominations are due by September 23, 2024.

“Honoring those who champion human rights despite immense personal risk is at the heart of what we do,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Sue Hendrickson. “This award stands as a testament to the power of individuals to make a difference, even in the face of adversity.”

https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/awards/F23B5465-6A15-4463-9A91-14B2977D9FCE

Individuals or organizations can submit nominations. Nominees will be judged based on the following criteria:

  • The nominee’s work is unique or particularly distinctive.
  • The nominee’s work has been effective in advancing human rights in a country other than the United States.
  • The nominee faces risk or insecurity as a result of their work.
  • The nominee would benefit significantly from receiving the Baldwin Award in the form of enhanced protection or in any other way.

The nomination form can be found [here].

For any questions about the award or the nomination process, please contact Human Rights First at BaldwinAward2024@humanrightsfirst.org.

Call for Nominations: 2024 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award

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UN experts call for justice for Tunisian human rights defender Sihem Bensedrine

August 12, 2024

UN experts called on the Tunisian authorities to respect the right to judicial guarantees and judicial protection of Sihem Bensedrine, who was arrested on 1 August 2024.

“In a context marked by the suppression of numerous dissenting voices, the arrest of Ms Bensedrine raises serious concerns about the respect of the right to freedom of opinion and expression in Tunisia and has a chilling effect on journalists, human rights defenders and civil society in general,” the experts said.

https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/laureates/5A2E5622-80B0-425E-A2AE-2703983126B4

Bensedrine is the former President of the Truth and Dignity Commission (TVD) which documented the crimes committed under previous regimes, and a journalist who has long denounced human rights violations in the country.

Since 2021, she has been involved in a judicial investigation into the alleged falsification of a chapter in the TVD´s final report regarding corruption in the banking system. The independent human rights experts have already held discussions with the Tunisian government concerning this investigation.

“This arrest could amount to judicial harassment of Ms Bensedrine for work she has undertaken as President of the Truth and Dignity Commission,” the experts said. “It appears to be aimed at discrediting information contained in the Commission’s report, which could give rise to legal proceedings against alleged perpetrators of corruption under the previous regimes.”

The Special Rapporteurs urged Tunisia to uphold its obligation to protect members of commissions of enquiry into gross human rights violations from defamation and civil or criminal proceedings brought against them because of their work, or the content of their reports.

“We call for strict respect for Ms Bensedrine’s right to judicial guarantees, including the right to a fair trial by due process, impartiality and independence, and for an end to abusive proceedings and reprisals against her.”

The experts: Bernard Duhaime, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence; Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression; Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

https://www.miragenews.com/un-experts-demand-justice-for-tunisian-rights-1292532/

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/08/un-experts-call-justice-tunisian-human-rights-defender

https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/08/12/tunisia-hollows-out-its-media-landscape-ahead-elections

but then in February2025 comes the good news over releases:https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250219-tunisia-court-orders-release-of-top-rights-activist

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United Arab Emirates convicts scores of defendants in a mass trial, sentencing 40 to life in prison

July 22, 2024

The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sentenced 43 individuals to life in prison in a mass trial on Wednesday 3 July 2024, according to the UAE’s state-run news agency, WAM. The trial, which has been criticized by human rights organizations for allegedly targeting dissidents, involved charges linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the UAE government. WAM reported the verdicts shortly after human rights advocates released statements announcing the sentences. Alongside the life sentences, five defendants received 15-year prison terms and another five were sentenced to 10 years. The court dismissed the cases of 24 defendants.

According to WAM, the court ruled that those convicted “have worked to create and replicate violent events in the country, similar to what has occurred in other Arab states—including protests and clashes between the security forces and protesting crowds—that led to deaths and injuries and to the destruction of facilities, as well as the consequent spread of panic and terror among people.”

While WAM did not identify those sentenced by name, and specific details regarding the trial are not clear, Joey Shea, a researcher focusing on the UAE for Human Rights Watch, noted a few prominent figures involved in the case to the Associated Press (AP).

On 10 July 2024, Human Rights First condemned the secret trial and sentencing of dozens of activists in the United Arab Emirates:

“Washington’s ally has again today demonstrated its violent repression,” said Senior Advisor Brian Dooley. “The Biden administration has struck millions of dollars of arms deals with the UAE dictatorship, and failed to sanction its officials responsible for cracking down on peaceful dissent. The message from Washington to the UAE has been clear for many years: Do what you want, there will be no consequences.”

Among those reportedly sentenced to life in prison after a mass trial is prominent legal scholar Nasser bin Ghaith. He graduated with honors from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Ohio with an LLM in U.S. and Global Legal Studies in 2001. Another of those in the mass sham trial — which included 84 defendants — was Ahmed Mansoor, who received his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical, Computer, & Energy Engineering and his Master’s in Telecommunications for the University of Colorado, Boulder. Human Rights First is still waiting for confirmation on the outcome of his case in the trial. [see https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/laureates/074ACCD4-A327-4A21-B056-440C4C378A1A]

Bin Ghaith, Mansoor, and other prominent activists in the trial were already in prison serving long sentences for their peaceful activism.

Washington Enables Violent Repression in the UAE as Dozens of Activists Sentenced in Secret Trial

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uae-scores-convicted-sham-trial-uae84

https://www.newsweek.com/uae-court-sentences-40-people-life-prision-mass-trail-report-1923443

https://apnews.com/article/uae-mass-trial-dissidents-2108263bffe49915a866eecc64d1b605

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uae-un-experts-shocked-after-dozens-sentenced-life-mass-trial

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Julian Assange is free – but press freedom questions

June 26, 2024

All main media and many NGOs spent considerable attention on the release from prison of Julian Assange [see also: https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/laureates/129BFFBD-4F20-45B0-B029-78668832D473 – he won 3 human rights awards].  

But many, such as the NGO ARTICLE 19, have a warning: However, this is not a slam-dunk win for press freedom. The US should have never brought these charges. The single remaining criminal count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defence documents puts investigative journalism at severe risk in the United States and beyond. Journalists that cover national security, the armed forces and defence do this day in and day out as part of providing transparency and accountability to hold abuses of power in check.

‘We are all at risk if the government can hold an archaic law, the Espionage Act, over the heads of journalists to silence them.’  The charge under the Espionage Act undermines the principles of media freedom, accountability, and independent journalism that Assange, his legal team, and campaigners had championed throughout his case, which began in 2012. The fact that his release from Belmarsh prison is a result of plea deal is a clear reminder of how important it is to redouble our efforts defending media freedom and pushing for accountability. 

See more on this: https://humanrightsdefenders.blog/tag/julian-assange/

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cxee24pvl94o

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/25/julian-assange-wikileaks-press-freedom-biden-administration

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Call for applications for Lorenzo Natali Prize

June 19, 2024

The Lorenzo Natali Journalism Prize, sponsored by the European Commission (EU), is inviting applications that recognise excellence in writing, radio, and broadcast journalism on the theme of development, democracy, and human rights around the world. Sewe: https://www.trueheroesfilms.org/thedigest/awards/D49ECF35-4B42-444D-B4FA-F7ACE2BF65BC

This year’s contest is focused on related issues of gender equality, human development, climate, environment and energy, digital and infrastructure, sustainable growth and jobs, youth, migration and forced displacement, peace, and governance.

The application encouraged journalists committed to defending democracy and human rights can enter a competition.

The contest has four award categories: Best Emerging Journalist, Investigative Journalism, Feature Journalism, and Special Photojournalism.

Works must have been published or broadcast between May 30, 2023, and May 24, 2024.

https://www.icirnigeria.org/lorenzo-natali-prize-2024-32nd-edition-seeks-entries/

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