Human rights defenders from Iran, Cambodia, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Colombia and Mauritania are Finalists for the 2013 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.

Every year Front Line Defenders presents the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to one person who has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of human rights.

Previous winners of the Award have included human rights defenders from Syria, the Russian Federation, Afghanistan, Guatemala, DRC, Uzbekistan and Sudan.

On Monday 28 January the jury made up of members of the Oireachtas, Dail Eireann and the European Parliament: Ms Emer Costello MEP, Minister Simon Coveney TD, Senator Averil Power, Minister Ruairi Quinn TD, and Front Line Defenders board member, Ms Noeline Blackwell announced the names of the 6 human rights defenders who are the finalists for this year’s Award.

The Finalists for the 2013 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk are:

Mam Sonando – Cambodia

Mansoureh Behkish – Iran

David Rabelo Crespo – Colombia

Bahtiyor Hamraev – Uzbekistan

Biram Dah Ould Abeid – Mauritania

Ruth Mumbi – Kenya

Speaking at the announcement of the shortlist in Dublin, Front Line Defenders Executive Director Mary Lawlor said. “ To decide on this year’s finalists we were faced with the unenviable task of choosing 6 human rights defenders from a total list of 90 nominations, from every region of the world.

Every one of the 90 human rights defenders nominated for this year’s Award is an example of courage and absolute commitment to the cause of human rights. Each of the six finalists have faced threats and intimidation while two, Mam Sonando from Cambodia and David Rabelo Crespo from Colombia are currently in prison”.

“There will always be people who choose to work for the promotion and protection of human rights. No matter how governments try, they will never get rid of them all, and as each one falls, another is there to continue the fight against injustice.

It doesn’t matter whether their work is for a few years or for life, what governments don’t understand is that you will never quench the spirit of human rights defenders. It is in their blood and in their breathing” added Ms Lawlor.

“The Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk is a celebration of that unquenchable spirit which unites human rights defenders around the world in a movement to create more just and equal societies”.

The winner of the 2013 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin later in the year.

http://en.hrsu.org/archives/1858