© Martin Ennals Award
Each year, the Martin Ennals Award provides recognition and protection to human rights defenders who strive for freedom, justice, equality and accountability in their communities and countries, often at the risk of their own lives.
Celebrating three galvanisers of the human rights movement
Human rights activists work tirelessly across the globe. Many of them inspire others, thus mobilising the future generation of the movement. These exceptional activists are the ones nominated to the Martin Ennals Award. “In 2022, the Jury nominated three galvanisers of the human rights movement; courage is the connecting dot between them. ”, said Hans Thoolen, Chair of the Martin Ennals Award Jury.
The 2022 Laureates
© Martin Ennals Foundation
Pham Doan Trang is a leading journalist, editor and democracy advocate in Vietnam, where the Communist Party has left little room for opposition voices to flourish. She directed several independent media outlets to raise awareness amongst Vietnam’s citizens of their fundamental rights galvanising many other journalists and human rights defenders to speak up. She was one of the most hunted activists in her country before being arrested in October 2020. On 14 December 2021, Pham Doan Trang was sentenced to nine years in prison for “conducting propaganda against the State”. There are growing concerns about her health.
© Martin Ennals Foundation
Dr. Daouda Diallo is a trained pharmacist-turned-human rights activist in Burkina Faso. The founder of the civil society coalition CISC, he dedicatedly documents human rights violations in a country rocked by violent crossfires between government forces, local paramilitary groups and Islamist factions. He carries the torch for justice and accountability to victims of the violence and their families. Dr. Diallo’s message of unity amongst different ethnic groups and faiths provides inspiration to a country struggling with extreme poverty, hunger, and weak governance.
© Martin Ennals Foundation
Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja is a charismatic architect of Bahrain’s human rights movement and a leader of the 2011 protests calling for democracy and greater freedom in the Gulf region. Al-Khawaja is not only an activist, but also a social entrepreneur who founded some of the first human rights research and defence organisations in the region, which still exist today. He inspires future generations in Bahrain to continue to fight despite his now decade-long imprisonment.
The Award Ceremony will take place on 2 June 2022
Held in the heart of Geneva, Switzerland, the Martin Ennals Award Ceremony gathers every year both local and international audiences for a unique celebration of human rights defenders. “As a city of human rights, Geneva is committed to supporting international cooperation on critical issues. Throughout the pandemic, many organisations have persisted in their human rights missions, demonstrating tremendous resilience. In this spirit, we are proud to co-organise another edition of the Martin Ennals Award ”, said Member of the City Executive Alfonso Gomez.
In 2022, the organisers chose to postpone the Ceremony until 2 June 2022 instead of virtualising it: “The latest outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic does not allow for us to welcome the Laureates and the public in optimal conditions. Instead, we will adapt our training and advocacy activities so we can continue to support the Laureates throughout the winter”, explained Isabel de Sola, Director of the Martin Ennals Foundation.
A newly-released confidential letter by a UN Special Rapporteur documents the disbarment of human rights lawyers in China and the tightening ideological control over lawyers and law firms. The UN expert denounces disappearances, closed-door trials, harassment of relatives, travel bans, and other abuses targeting human rights lawyers.
On Tuesday 16 April 2024, ISHR delivered to both Geneva’s Administrative Council and its legislative counterpart, the Municipal Council, physical copies of the more than 1000 signatures collected in support of a memorial honouring Chinese human rights defender Cao Shunli.
13 April 2024 marked one year since the Chinese authorities arbitrarily detained prominent human rights lawyer Yu Wensheng and his wife, woman defender Xu Yan. As their health steadily deteriorates, 30 rights groups and the European Union have renewed their call for their prompt release.
