Dublin: Irish Parliamentarians Announce Nominations for Front Line Award 2008

Today in Dublin, Front Line was joined in the Royal College of Physicians by Irish parliamentarians, Simon Coveney TD, Mary O'Rourke TD, Ciaran Cuffe Td, Roisin Shortall TD and Noeline Blackwell, Director of FLAC (Free Legal Aid Centre) to announce the nominations for the Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders Ar Risk 2008.

Further Information

Posted 10/04/2008 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.

“Human rights defenders are people who make extra-ordinary sacrifices, often putting their lives at risk. they are usually either on the move or on the run and they are the people who change society - that is why they need and deserve our support and why Front Line is so pleased to welcome this cross party support for human rights defnders today” said Mary Lawlor, Director of Front Line

The nominees for this years award are: Anwar al-Bunni, Syria a human rights lawyer who defends the rights of others through the courts and has as a result been imprisoned and tortured.

Latifah Anum Sirega, Indonesia defends the rights of the indigenous people of Papua who have been marginalised, impoverished and discriminated against in their own country. She has been threatened and attempts have bee made to kidnap her.

Liu Jie , China has been sentenced to reeducation through labour for defending the rights of ordinary people which exist on paper but which are systematically abused in practice.

Valdecy dos Santos , Brazil is currently living in hiding because his work to protect the Amazon and uphold the rights of small farmers against the claims of commercial companies puts his life at risk.

Padre Andres Tamayo, Honduras has a price of €40,000 on his head because his campaign against illegal logging in the rain forests of Honduras challenges the economic interests of powerful people Previous winners of the Front Line Award include Ahmadjan Madmarov of Uzbekistan, Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam of Sudan and Gégé Katana of DRC.

The 2008 Front Line Award will be presented by President McAleese at a ceremony in Dublin's City Hall on 1 May 2008.

Link here to find more information on the Front Line Award Further Information on Front Line Award