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PRESS RELEASE Chechen Human Rights Defender receives the Martin Ennals Award
Lida Yusupova of the Grozny office of Memorial is the winner of the 2004 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA). The ceremony will take place in Geneva on April 7 and is broadcast live as a special edition of the Swiss TV programme ZigZag Café. Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, will hand over the award followed by a panel that includes Claudia Roth, Germany’s Commissioner for Human Rights. A woman’s courage. Lida Yusupova is the coordinator of the Grozny office of the Moscow-based human rights organisation Memorial. This small group is one of the few human rights organisations still operating in Chechnya, providing the world with crucial information on violations of human rights in this Russian republic. Lida collects testimonies from those victims who dare to come to the Grozny office but also goes herself out to the places where killings and disappearances have occurred. She accompanies the victims in their claims to the Russian Army and Security Services and provides legal assistance to the extent that the judicial system still functions in that part of Russia. The Chairman of the Jury of the MEA, Hans Thoolen, called Lida “one of the most courageous women in Europe today”. He stated that "there is complete consensus among all human rights organizations on the Jury that Lida deserves the award for her tireless efforts in a situation of war and extreme danger, with increased risk for women". The ceremony is broadcast live by Swiss Television at 13h00 before a select studio audience in representing the international community and re-transmitted by TV5 to millions of viewers. This and other media coverage is considered crucial for the protection of those who risk their lives to stop human rights violations. MEA: the main award of the human rights movement. The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) is a unique collaboration among ten of the world's leading non-governmental human rights organisations. The Jury is composed of the following: Amnesty International, International Federation for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, World Organisation Against Torture, German Diakonie, International Service for Human Rights, International Alert, Huridocs, Defence for Children, and the International Commission of Jurists. The previous 10 recipients of the MEA are: Alirio Uribe Muñoz, Colombia (2003); Jacqueline Moudeina, Chad; Peace Brigades International, Immaculée Birhaheka, DRCongo; Natasa Kandic, Yugoslavia; Eyad El Sarraj, Palestine; Samuel Ruiz García; Mexico; Clement Nwankwo, Nigeria; Asma Jahangir, Pakistan; Harry Wu, China (1994). Martin Ennals (1927-1991) was instrumental to the modern human rights movement. He was the first Secretary-General of Amnesty International and the driving force behind many other organisations. His deep desire was to see more cooperation and solidarity among NGOs: the MEA is evidence that this is possible. For media contact Laura Fahndrich at+41 78637 5504. For general information on the MEA contact Luis Marreiros, Coordinator at+41 22 809 49 25 (marreiros@martinennalsaward.org) or visit our website: http://www.martinennalsaward.org Photos available at http://www.martinennalsaward.org/lida |
