NOMINATIONS FOR THE MEA 2001 Dear colleagues and friends, The Martin Ennals Foundation would like to invite you to nominate a deserving individual or organisation for the 2001 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA). The deadline for nominations is 15 October 2000. Please find below the MEA application form and more information on the Award. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries. The new MEA website: http://www.digitalsmile.com/mea provides further information as well as the nominations form ready for electronic submission. With best regards, Hans Thoolen Chairman, Martin Ennals Foundation c/o HURIDOCS 48, chemin de Grand-Montfleury CH-1290 Versoix, Switzerland Tel: 41.22.755.5252 Fax: 41.22.755.5260 E-mail: huridocs@comlink.org THE MARTIN ENNALS AWARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NOMINATION FORM (to be sent to the address above) Name of Candidate: Address: Tel: Fax: E-mail: Brief particulars of the candidate including a short description of recent activities for the protection of human rights and their impact (max. 100 words): Reasons why the candidate merits the Award (max. 100 words): References and their address/telephone/fax/e-mail: 1. 2. 3. Nomination submitted by (name, address, telephone, fax, e-mail): Place/Date: THE MARTIN ENNALS AWARD FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS Background A human rights award in the name of Martin Ennals was created in 1993 by the Martin Ennals Foundation, established by his friends, family and colleagues. In 1999, ten of the world's best known human rights organisations (see list below) decided to join forces in making this award an effective tool for the protection of human rights defenders and turn it into the common award of the whole non-governmental human rights movement. The Award is granted annually to an individual, or exceptionally an organisation, in recognition of their commitment and ongoing endeavour in the defence and promotion of human rights. Nominees must currently be involved in work for the promotion and protection of human rights. Special account is taken of those who have demonstrated an active record of combating human rights violations by courageous and innovative means. The MEA aims to encourage individuals or organisations, particularly those who are working in conditions hostile to fundamental human rights and who are in need of protection. The value of the annual Award is, at present, 20'000 Swiss Francs and is to be used for further work in the field of human rights. Exceptionally, the Board may decide to make an honorary Award. Procedure & Guidelines Anybody can nominate any individual or organisation by filling out the appropriate form. Please note that neither individuals nor organisations may nominate themselves. Nominations for the 2001 Award should reach the Martin Ennals Foundation by 15 October 2000. Receipt of nominations will not be acknowledged. The selection of the winning candidate is made by the Board of the Martin Ennals Foundation. A final decision is normally reached in February following the nomination. Any documentation attached to the nomination form should be copies as none will be returned. Should the candidate reach the final stage of the selection process, the MEF reserves the right to request further information and documentation concerning the candidate. The Award ceremony is held in normally held in Geneva at the time of the Commission on Human Rights. The 2001 award ceremony - based on last year's success - will be held in the framework of the North-South Media Festival (end of March). The Board Members of the Board of the Martin Ennals Foundation are: Hans Thoolen (for HURIDOCS), Chairman Eric Sottas (for the World Organisation Against Torture), Treasurer Leah Levin, Secretary (for International Alert), Secretary Simia Ahmadi (for the International Federation of Human Rights) Marc Ennals (for the Ennals family) Maurice Graber (for Defence for Children, International) Nirmala Pandit (for the International Commission of Jurists) Andrew Puddephatt (for Article 19) Wilder Taylor (for Human Rights Watch) Werner Lottje (for the Human Rights Desk of Diakonisches Werk, Germany) Patti Whaley (for Amnesty International) HURIDOCS has accepted responsibility for administration of the nomination procedures and for organising the Award ceremony, through its Geneva-based international Secretariat. Martin Ennals (1927-1991) If anyone can be remembered for a life-time of active dedication to human rights, it is surely Martin Ennals. Each day, his formidable contribution is reflected in the effective world-wide organisation he helped to build up, Amnesty International (1968-80), and in those NGOs established at his initiative and with his active participation, such as the HURIDOCS Network (1982); Article 19 (1985-86), International Alert (1985-90) and the European Human Rights Foundation; and others which he supported from their conception, including the Rehabilitation Centre for Torture Victims, the International Service for Human Rights, Defence for Children International, and SOS Torture. Alongside his international commitments, he was also closely involved with a wide range of national organisations. Martin's quintessential role was first to engage himself, and then to inspire others to do the same. When he died at the age of 64 on 5 October 1991, he left behind a vigorous world of human rights organisations which continue his work and maintain and strengthen his vision. "Martin's life and work were inspired by his commitment to human rights, making him a pioneer of the human rights movement. Martin stood at the cradle of many national and international organisations working for human dignity, political freedom, social justice, and peace. He defended human rights at times and in places when and where human rights were not popular, and not high on anyone's agenda" - Theo Van Boven Past recipients 1994: Harry Wu (China), former prisoner in the Chinese Laogai. After his release, he and his wife returned, secretly, to China to further document conditions in the Laogai. In 1995 he was arrested in China and only released after a vigorous international campaign. 1995: Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), lawyer. In spite of threats, she has taken on unpopular causes such as bonded-labour and has fought against religious extremism. She is a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Women's Action Forum. 1996: Clement Nwankwo (Nigeria) human rights activist, who co-founded the Civil Liberties Organisation and founded the Constitutional Rights Project (CRP), which belongs to Africa's most respected national human rights groups. An untiring worker for a just and peaceful Nigeria. 1997: Msg. Samuel Ruiz Garcia (Mexico). Bishop of the Diocese of Chiapas and advocate of the poor and indigenous people. He has been the mediator between the Mexican government and the Zapatista National Liberation Army. 1998: Dr. Eyad Rajab El Sarraj (Palestine) founder and Medical Director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. Dr. Sarraj has developed an independent mental health service which provides urgently needed support for the large number of people affected by the upheaval of the Intifada and the organised violence of the Israeli occupation. 1999: Ms. Natasha Kandic (Yugoslavia), founder and Executive Director of the Humanitarian Law Centre. Ms. Kandic and her Centre provide an inspiring example of systematic and impartial investigation of human rights abuses. During the recent Kosovo war, she reported on human rights violations by all parties. 2000: Ms. Immaculée Birhaheka (Democratic Republic of Congo), leader of the women's organisation PIAF based in rebel-held Goma. Her struggle to protect and empower women and her courage to speak out on mass violations of human rights in a warn-torn society, have put her personally in danger. Making a contribution Financial contributions are urgently needed to continue the work. Bank account: MEA/MEF UBS Centre W. Rappard, 154 rue de Lausanne, CH-1211 Geneva Account number D 7-105.221.0 ---------------------------------- Send mail for the 'huridocs-tech' list to <huridocs-tech@hrea.org>. Mail administrative requests to <majordomo@hrea.org>. For additional assistance, send mail to: <owner-huridocs-tech@hrea.org>. Archives of previous messages posted to the list can be found at: http://www.hrea.org/lists/huridocs-tech/markup/maillist.html
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