2015 Martin Ennals Award Ceremony - 6 October 2015 in Geneva

Noregistration is required to attend the event.

Follow the live broadcast of the Ceremony here (from 18:00 GVA time)!

This award is given to human rights defenders whohave shown deep commitment and face great personal risk. The aim of the awardis to provide protection through international recognition.

Thenominees for the 2015 Martin Ennals Award are:

RobertSann Aung (Myanmar)

Since hisfirst year of University in 1974, Robert Sann Aung has courageously foughtagainst human rights abuses. He has been repeatedly imprisoned in harshconditions, physically attacked as well as regularly threatened. His educationwas interrupted numerous times and he was disbarred from 1993 – 2012. In 2012he managed to regain his license to practice law. Since then he has representedjailed child soldiers, those protesting at a contested copper mine, peacefulpolitical protesters, those whose land has been confiscated by the military, aswell as student activists. Throughout his career he has provided legalservices, or just advice, often pro bono, to those whose rights have beenaffected.

He stated, "I feel humble and extremely honored to be nominated for thisprestigious award. This nomination conveys the message to activists, humanrights defenders and promoters who fight for equality, justice and democracy inMyanmar that their efforts are not forgotten by the world. And this is also thenomination for the people in Myanmar who stand together with me, who strugglewith me, for the betterment of citizens so that they can live in dignity, underthe just law, in conformity with the principles of UN human rightsdeclaration."

Asmaou Diallo (Guinea)

Her human rights work started following the events of 28 September 2009 whenthe Guinean military attacked peaceful demonstrators. Over 150 were killed,including her son, and over 100 women raped. Hundreds more were injured. Sheand l’Association des Parents et Amis des Victimes du 28 septembre 2009(APIVA), which she founded, work to obtain justice for these crimes and toprovide medical and vocational support to victims of sexual assault, many ofwhom cannot return to their homes. She has worked to encourage witnesses tocome forward and supported them as they provided information and testimony tocourt proceedings. As a result, eleven people have been charged, includingsenior army officers.

Shestated, “As a human rights defender in Guinea, I am very comforted to be amongthe nominees for the Martin Ennals Foundation, this prize encourages me tocontinue my fight for the protection and promotion of human rights in Guinea. Itrust that this award will have a positive effect on the legal cases concerningthe events of the September 28, 2009, and will be a lever for all defenders ofhuman rights in Guinea”.

Ahmed Mansoor (United Arab Emirates)

Since2006, he has focussed on initiatives concerning freedom of expression, civiland political rights. He successfully campaigned in 2006-2007 to support twopeople jailed for critical social comments. They were released and the chargesdropped. Shortly after, the Prime Minister of UAE issued an order not to jailjournalists in relation to their work. He is one of the few voices within theUnited Arab Emirates who provides a credible independent assessment of humanrights developments. He regularly raises concerns on arbitrary detention,torture, international standards for fair trials, non-independence of thejudiciary, and domestic laws that violate international law. He was jailed in2011 and since then has been denied a passport and banned from travelling.

He stated, “I'm very pleased to be nominated for the Martin Ennals award. Thisrecognition indicates that we are not left alone in this part of the world andthat our voices resonate and our efforts are appreciated by a well-informedpeople. I hope this nomination sheds further light on the human rights issuesin the UAE. It is not just full of skyscrapers, big malls and an area attractiveto businesses, but there are other struggles of different sorts beneath all ofthat.”

The main award of the human rightsmovement. The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) is aunique collaboration among ten of the world’s leading human rightsorganizations to give protection to human rights defenders worldwide. The Juryis composed of the following NGOs:

- AmnestyInternational
- Human Rights Watch
- Human Rights First
- Int’l Federation for Human Rights
- World Organisation Against Torture
- Front Line Defenders
- International Commission of Jurists
- EWDE Germany,
- International Service for Human Rights
- HURIDOCS.