CALL FOR NOMINATIONS : THE 2005 MARTIN ENNALS AWARD
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS (MEA)

The Martin Ennals Foundation invites nominations for its 2005 Award. The deadline is 1st October 2004. The MEA application form and more information on the Award can be obtained from the MEA website: www.martinennalsaward.org, ready for electronic submission.

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 present value of the annual Award is 20'000 Swiss Francs (Euro 14.000), to be used for further work in the field of human rights. Following last year's success, the 2005 award ceremony is expected to be broadcast live by Swiss Television on Monday 14 March 2005 (in the afternoon of the opening of the UN Commission on Human Rights) and re-transmitted worldwide via TV5. The following organisations participate in the Jury: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights, Diakonie Germany, the World Organisation Against Torture, International Alert, International Commission of Jurists, Defense for Children International, International Service for Human Rights and HURIDOCS.

Past recipients are : 2004 Lida Yusupova (Chechnya, Russia), 2003 Alirio Uribe Muñoz (Colombia), 2002 Jacqueline Moudeina (Chad), 2001 Peace Brigades International, 2000 Immaculée Birhaheka (D.R. Congo), 1999 Natasha Kandic (ex-Yugoslavia), 1998: Dr. Eyad Rajab El Sarraj (Palestine), 1997: Msg. Samuel Ruiz García (Mexico), 1996 Clement Nwankwo (Nigeria), 1995 Asma Jahangir (Pakistan), 1994 Harry Wu (China).

Martin Ennals (1927-1991) was instrumental to the modern human rights movement. A fiercely devoted activist, he creatively pursued ideas ahead of his time and was the driving force behind other organisations. His deep desire was to see more cooperation among NGOs. (For more information, please visit our website.)

For more information, contact the MEA Secretariat:
c/o World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
8, rue du Vieux Billard, PO Box 21, CH-1211 Geneva 8, Switzerland.
Tel: +4122 8094925 fax: +4122 8094929 e-mail: [email protected].