The 2012 Front Line Defenders Award was presented today at a ceremony in Dublin's City Hall by Mr Aryeh Neier, President of the Open Society Foundations and a founder of Human Rights Watch to blogger and human rights defender Razan Ghazzawi of Syria.
"Everyone who cares about human rights is indebted to the brave defenders who keep us informed about attacks on rights. What we know about Syria today is largely due to a few persons like Razan Ghazzawi who endure severe reprisals for giving the world a window through which to see the terrible crimes committed every day”, said Mr Neier.
Front Line Defenders Founder and Executive Director Mary Lawlor said, “the fact that this year Front Line Defenders has received more nominations for the Award that ever before – 107 from 46 countries – is a sign of the increased levels of repression faced by human rights defenders in many countries around the world”.
Razan Ghazzawi is currently on trial before a military court in Syria charged with “possessing prohibited materials with the intent to disseminate them”. “Razan Ghazzawi is typical of the selfless courage shown by all the human rights defenders nominated for this year's Award.
