Posts Tagged ‘Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders’
November 6, 2011
Back in 1983 the Yugoslav-born filmmaker Stacha Stanojevic made a human rights film under the title ‘Illustres Inconnus’ (Notorious Nobodies as the English language version would be called much later). One of the personalities in this multi-story film is a human rights activist, the inspiration for whom came from Martin Ennals who had then just left his post as Secretary General of Amnesty International and met Stacha several times. Now the filmmaker has drawn from his full-length film a short version focusing on the international human rights defender for whom, unknowingly, Martin Ennals stood as model. The scenes are mostly shot in Geneva and have the feel of this diplomatic city in the early 80s. The end is a bit of a surprise but highlights the essential human element in the unending quest for human rights. Unfortunately only in French for now, but english-speakers can still get the gist of it. See http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlt5bv_indignation-revolte-1983_shortfilms?start=0#from=embed
Posted in Amnesty international, films, human rights, Human Rights Defenders | 1 Comment »
Tags: Geneva, Illustres Inconnus, Martin Ennals, Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, Stanojevic
October 23, 2011
At the luncheon in honor of MEA Laureates of the MEA Kasha J. Nabagesera and Muhanad Al-Hassani on 13 October in Geneva, Robert Fulghum, well-known author and Patron of the MEA, asked me to read what he would have said if he could have come to the event. I think it is so beautiful and pertinent to human rights defenders and their supporters worldwide that I share it with you here. I am sure Robert Fulghum would have no problem with anybody using it as long as credit is given:
Please do not bow your heads, but allow your eyes to look around the room and notice those present.
Know that the finest blessing a meal can have is the presence of great company.
With such companions as these this meal could not be more blessed.
What the gods may do is often difficult to discern or understand.
What people like you do and continue to do is clear :
to lift and set free the human spirit
to keep alive the flame of basic rights
and to support those men and women are willing to live and to die for the sake of human freedom.
May the meal sustain your bodies as your values sustain meaning in your lives.
May those who are not here to share this meal know that bread is being broken here for their sake.
May the cause of human rights never end, but go on as long as human beings are on the earth.
Let us continue . . .
Amen.”
Posted in Human Rights Defenders, MEA | 1 Comment »
Tags: al-Hassani, Kasha, Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, MEA, prayer, Robert Fulghum, support
October 16, 2011
Last Thursday, 13 October, the ceremony for Kasha, the Ugandan 2011 laureate of the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, took place in Geneva, again in the beautiful Victoria Hall. There was a large audience of 600 people. Moreover, the 2010 MEA laureate, Muhannad al-Hassani from Syria, also made a surprise appearance. The True Heroes Foundation made a 8-minute summary of highlights of the ceremony and this overview gives an excellent impression of the whole evening. Please go to our newly designed website: http://www.martinennalsaward.org.
Posted in Al-Hassani, films, human rights, Human Rights Defenders, THF | 2 Comments »
Tags: ceremony, film, Kasha, LGBT, Martin Ennals Award, Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, MEA, Syria, THF, Uganda
Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards 