Today in Dublin Front Line was joined by parliamentarians from the main political parties, and both the Irish and European parliaments, to show their support for the courage and struggle for human rights of four outstanding human rights defenders. Danilo Rueda from Colombia, Yaena Solaemae from Thailand, Dr Yuri Melini from Guatemala and Samuel Mohochi from Kenya have been selected by the Front Line jury as the shortlisted nominees for the Front Line Award 2009.

Further Information

This is the fifth year of the Front Line Award which in previous years has been awarded to human rights defenders from Sudan, Uzbekistan, DRC and Syria. In every case the Award has been granted to a human rights defender who is at risk because of their legitimate work in defence of the human rights of others.

Each of the nominees for this year's Award would be a worthy winner and the final decision will be announced at the Front Line Award ceremony in Dublin's City Hall on 8 May. The Award will be presented by actor and human rights activist Martin Sheen.

Full Text of Front Line Press Release

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PRESS RELEASE DATE: 17 April 2009 For immediate release

Cross Party TD's join Front Line to show their support for Human Rights Defenders at risk in Colombia - Thailand - Kenya and Guatemala

“Today we are honouring four brave human rights defenders who have shown exceptional courage in the face of threats intimidation and the constant risk of assassination. Every day they put their lives on the line in defence of rights that we take for granted” said Mary Lawlor Executive Director of Front Line.

Ms Lawlor was speaking at the press conference in the Royal Irish Academy to announce the nominees for this year's prestigious Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. This is the fifth year of the Award and the winner of this year's Front Line Award will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin's City Hall on 8 May and will be presented by Martin Sheen.

Front Line was joined by representatives of all the main political parties, Proinsias De Rossa MEP, Alan Shatter TD, Ciaran Cuffe TD, Ruairi Quinn TD each of whom endorsed the nomination of one of the four candidates for the award.

The nominees for this year's Front Line Award are:

Dr Yuri Giovanni Melini – Guatemala nominated by Proinsias de Rossa MEP Yaena Solaemae, Thailand nominated by Alan Shatter TD Danilo Rueda Paz Y Justicia – Colombia, nominated by Ciaran Cuffe TD Samuel Mohochi, Executive, Kenya nominated by Ruairi Quinn TD

“Whether facing attack by paramilitaries in Colombia, revenge by the army in Thailand, a corrupt legal system and police force in Kenya or the risk of assassination by elements of the security forces in Colombia all four nominees have shown that around the world there are people who think more of the rights of others than of their own safety – who are prepared to sacrifice their energy, their health and even their life in pursuit of a more just society” said Ms Lawlor.

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.

For further Information please contact: Jim Loughran, Head of Communications, Front Line Telephone 00 353 1 212 3750 MOBILE 00353 (0)87 9377586