Front Line Award

Dr Yuri Melini was awarded the Front Line Award because of his work to uphold the rights indigenous people of Guatemala against the ruthless interests of the logging and mining companies who put the profits of their companies before the interests of the community. On 4 September Yuri Melini was shot 7 times as he was leaving his home and as a result spent 22 days in intensive care. He was shot because his human rights work challenged the interests of powerful people.

 

Today, Front Line the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders will be joined by actor and campaigner Mr Martin Sheen and former Taoiseach ( Prime Minister) of Ireland, Mr Bertie Ahern TD, at a special lunch held at the United Nations in New York. The event is to celebrate the awarding of the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to Anwar al-Bunni of Syria.