The 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk Goes to imprisoned Syrian human rights defender
The Front Line Award for Human rights Defenders at Risk, was established to highlight the work of outstanding individuals who on a daily basis put their security and lives at risk defending the lives of others.
On 1 May, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, presented the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to Anwar al-Bunni of Syria. The Award was collected on his behalf by his wife Ragheda Issa Refki.
Anwar al-Bunni is currently serving a five year prison sentence because of his courageous work defending human rights defenders and opposition activists facing charges before the State Security Court. He had also set up a human rights centre in Damascus to support the work of human rights defenders and publicly denounced the use of torture in Syrian prisons.
The Front Line Award was presented to his wife Ragheda Issa Refki who flew to Dublin for the event by Ireland's President McAleese.
The presentation was made at a prestigious ceremony in Dublin's City Hall attended by leading members of the Government, the business community and the diplomatic corps.
In her speech President McAleese said "Among them are the heroic and the self-sacrificing few who refuse to accept the strangulation of freedom, the silencing of voices raised in protest against abuse and in defence of human rights. Such individuals have an extraordinary moral power, a power that is precisely what places them in danger. Their words have the ring of truth, the worst possible offence in the eyes of those who would try to resist the irresistible pressure to cultivate a vibrant, open, humanly-uplifting culture of freedom and of human rights".
The full text of President Mc Aleese's remarks are available by linking to
Text of President McAleese's speech
Al-Bunni was selected as this year's winner by the jury of members of the Irish and European parliaments and was selected from a short list that included nominees from Indonesia, China, Honduras and Brazil.
“All of these courageous people deserve international recognition. Every one of them is directly at risk because of their human rights work and they all deserve our support and any protection we can give them”. said Mary Lawlor Director Front Line who also spoke at the event. “The jury of Irish Parliamentarians decided to Award this year's Front Line Award to Anwar al-Bunni of Syria because of his outstanding work over more than 20 years. Despite all the problems, the tragedies and the abuses he has has kept his belief in the prospect of a better future for Syria” said Lawlor.
Profile of Anwar al-Bunni winner of the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk 2008 Anwar al-Bunni is currently serving a prison sentence of five and a half years because of his work as a human rights lawyer, defending human rights defenders and political prisoners and because he spoke out about the use of torture in Syrian prisons. Anwar al-Bunni is the head of the "Free Political Prisoners Committee," and a leading human rights lawyer in Syria. He estimates that the various members of his family have spent over 60 years in Syrian prisons. He defended “Damascus Spring” leaders in 2001 and continues to represent many human rights defenders in Syria. Since the 1990's he has regularly defended human rights defenders and political prisoners facing prosecution before the State Security Court.
Full Biographies of Nominees for Front Line Award 2008
Profile of last year's winner Gégé Katana
Information about past Front Line Award Winners
The annual Front Line Award was established in 2004 to honour the work of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the protection of Human Rights in the face of considerable personal risk. It is intended that the Front Line Award and the profile gained by the nominees and the winners will contribute to their security and protection. It is also an opportunity to highlight the important and courageous work of human rights defenders around the world.
Nominations
Front Line Award nominations are open until 31st December and should be sent to awardnominations@frontlinedefenders.org. Nominations should give details of the human rights defender's work, the risks or negative consequences experienced as a result of this work, why you think he/she should receive the award and how he/she might benefit from it. Nominations must be supported by two referees who can attest to the nominees work, their integrity and their commitment to non-violent means.
Individual nominees may not be a leading member of a political party and must be currently active in human rights work (the Front Line Award is not intended to recognise a historical or posthumous contribution.) Self nomination is not permitted.
Each January, Front Line drafts a shortlist of five nominees for final selection by a jury of Irish elected representatives. The Award is presented at a ceremony in Dublin in May.
The Front Line Award includes a €10,000 donation to the work of the human rights defender as well as a €5,000 personal honorarium.