Awards for human rights defenders announced

Human Rights Awards(PHOTO/Defenders Coalition)

Do you know a human rights defender who is helping people and deserves recognition?

A coalition of human rights organisations has opened nominations for this year’sHuman Rights Defender Award for outstanding rights activists. Launchedin 2016, the award will be presented in November or December.

The honours are presented in five categories: Upcoming Human RightsDefender of the Year, Human Rights Defender of the Year Award, MunirMazrui Lifetime Achievement Award, Global Solidarity Award and thePopular Vote Award. 

The award spotlights courageous individuals who, often at great personalrisk, stand up for the rights of others.

The award is organised by the Working Group on Human Rights Defenders, anetwork of diplomatic missions and civil society organisations concerned withprotecting human rights defenders (HRDs) and Kenya’s broader human rights landscapein Kenya. The Defenders Coalition remains the main anchor of the process and theaward.

The award is especially timely when young activists — particularly from Gen Z — are rising upto demand better governance, police accountability, and an end to abuse of publicresources.

Many of these voices are met with violent repression: brutal crackdowns,enforced disappearances, and life-altering injuries sustained during protests.

For them, recognition isn’t about prestige — it’s about protection, legitimacy,and encouragement to keep going.

The Working Group on HRDs convenes every two months to share information,coordinate and, when needed, decide on joint action related to the protection of HRDsand their working environment.

The Working Group on HRDs has two co-chairs — Defenders Coalition as thepermanent chair and a rotational co-chair from the foreign missions.

The award honours the work of HRDs in promoting and protecting human rights,highlighting their work and their challenges and encourages Kenya’s up-and-comingHRDs. The award also aims to enhance the safety and protection of all HRDs by raising theirprofile and emphasising the importance of their work.

The Defenders Coalition says the award is critical at a time when human rights activists faceenhanced, surveillance and trumped-up charges and need a higher profile and more safety.

“Advocating for the respect of Human Rights is a high-risk undertaking. Groupsand individuals walking this road are often the targets for reprisals byauthorities and private groups who use different forms of repression to silence them.

In awarding the ultimate outstanding activist, the panel looks for someone whosework has demonstrable impact on the community, as well as someone who consistentlypromotes human rights, especially those of marginalised and vulnerable groups.

The ceremony is attended by human rights defenders, CSOs, the UN,government agencies, representatives from international missions and themedia covering the event.