Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

The Jury of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA), meeting in Geneva yesterday, selected Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera as its 2011 Laureate for her work for LGBT rights and marginalised people in Uganda.  Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera, a Ugandan woman, is the founder and Executive Director of Freedom and Roam Uganda, a main lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights organization.  Kasha has had the courage to appear on national television and international fora openly stating her sexual orientation and demanding equal protection of the law. This has led to her being constantly harassed and threatened. For more details and languages please go the website of the MEA www.martinennalsaward.org