26 October 2005
Human rights defenders, Irish government ministers, NGO workers and EU and UN officials gathered in Dublin from Thursday 13 October to Saturday 15 October to attend Front Line’s 3rd Dublin Platform.
Human rights defenders from over 70 countries around the globe, participated in workshops on Front Line’s Protection Manual for Human Rights Defenders, discussed ways of overcoming the numerous and varied threats they face and gave testimonies of their experiences.
Irish minister for foreign affairs and Envoy of the UN Secretary General on UN reform, Mr Dermot Ahern praised the “idealism and courage” of human rights defenders in the opening session of the platform. He offered a special welcome to Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, winner of the inaugural Front Line Human Rights Defenders Award. Dr Mudawi was arrested in his native Sudan earlier this year only a few hours prior to his departure to Ireland to collect his award from the President of Ireland, Mary Mc Aleese
Mr Ahern spoke of the importance of a stronger UN for human rights defenders and stressed Ireland and the EU’s commitment to the UN reform process. 
