Václav Havel Prize for Human Rights: MDAC Honoured to be Long-listed and Congratulates Finalists
The Václav Havel Prize for Human Rights is presented annually by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charter 77 Foundation, to reward outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights in Europe and beyond.
Twenty-seven candidates were nominated for the coveted award this year, and MDAC is honoured to have been long-listed to the final six, alongside some incredible human rights defenders and NGOs around the world.
“Human rights defenders are vital in ensuring that violations do not go unnoticed or unchallenged. They often undertake activities under significant pressure and sometimes at personal risk”, said Oliver Lewis, MDAC Executive Director, “MDAC salutes the finalists of this prize and the commitment of the many inspiring human rights defenders with whom we work to advance the rights of people with disabilities.”
The final winner will be announced on 29 September with the prize being handed over the next day in Strasbourg. MDAC extends its warm congratulations and appreciation to the three shortlisted nominees from Belarus, Georgia and China:
· Ales Bialiatski (Belarus), the director of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, which provides advice and assistance to political prisoners and their families. Ales Bialiatski is currently detained for his activities (to campaign for his release, click here);
· The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, which works to advance human rights and the rule of law in Georgia, including providing legal aid to those whose human rights have been violated by the authorities; and
· The Rights Defence Network (China), which is composed of activists, journalists, lawyers, writers, dissidents and labour organisers who collect and share human rights information about China, making full use of the internet, despite not being allowed to register in the country.
We look forward to congratulating the winner.