Three Human Right Defenders from China, Bangladesh and Mexico Selected as Final Nominees for the Martin Ennals Award 2014

This award is selected by the InternationalHuman Rights Community (See Jury Below)and given to Human Rights Defenders who have shown deep commitment and facegreat personal risk. The aim of the award is to highlight their work andprotect them through increased visibility.

Cao Shunli (China): Her death in detention was announced on March14th. She disappeared on Sept 14th shortly beforeboarding a flight order to participate in the Human Rights Council. Chinese authorities only acknowledged herdetention months later. She died in custody after being denied medicalattention for known health conditions until it was too late. Since 2008, shevigorously advocated for access to information, freedom of speech, and freedomof assembly. For this, she spent over two years in the “re-education throughlabour” system and was subjected to repeated harassment. This is a tragicexample of reprisals suffered by human rights defenders who work withinternational human rights mechanisms.

“The Human Rights Council, its President and other UN Member States mustnow support an independent investigation into her death, and hold Chinaaccountable for this reprehensible reprisal against a committed and peacefulhuman rights defender”, said Michael Ineichen of the International Service forHuman Rights.

Adilur RahmanKhan (Bangladesh),Since the 1990’s, he has worked on a wide range of human rights issues,such as illegal detention, enforced disappearances, and extra-judicialkillings. His organization, Odhikar, is one of the few independent voices leftin Bangladesh. Personally he is facing criminal prosecution for documenting theextrajudicial deaths of 61 people during demonstrations against the government.In August 2013, he was detained by police with no arrest warrant, who then atfirst denied holding him. Immediate widespread publicity is credited withsaving his life. Currently, his organization is facing closure. Donor fundsdestined for Odhikar are being blocked by the Prime Minister’s Office.

Mr Adilur Khan stated “[my nomination for…] thisprestigious award will further inspire me personally, and my fellow colleagueswho shoulder the struggles for democracy and the rule of law aiming to achievesocial justice in Bangladesh. As a symbol of recognition for the human rightsdefenders it will enhance the visibility and protection for the families of thevictims of human rights abuses.”

AlejandraAncheita(Mexico), Founder and Executive Director of ProDESC. For over 15 years she hasworked with migrants, workers, and indigenous communities to protect their landand labour rights vis a vis transnational mining and energy companies. Thesedisputes have included violent attacks on those she is trying to protect. Sheis also one of the pioneers in seeking accountability for transnationalcompanies in Mexican courts when local communities’ rights are not taken intoaccount. In Mexico, there is a clear pattern of attacks, threats,criminalization, and murders of human rights defenders. Ms Ancheita and ProDESChave been subjected to surveillance, a defamation campaign in the nationalmedia, and a break in at their offices.

Ms Ancheita, stated, “This recognition calls attention to theincreasing violence being suffered by human rights defenders in Mexico,particularly women defenders. I hope that it provides better conditions andincreased security not just for me, but for all human rights defenders in mycountry.”

The Award will be presented on October 7th2014 at a ceremony hosted by the City of Geneva.

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 human rightsorganizations to give protection tohuman rights defenders worldwide. The Jury is composed of the following NGOs:

- Amnesty International,

- Human Rights Watch,

- Human Rights First,

- Int’l Federation for HumanRights,

- WorldOrganisation Against Torture

- Front Line Defenders

- International Commission ofJurists,

- EWDE Germany,

- International Service for HumanRights

- HURIDOCS.
Electronic version with Bios, Photos, and Video: http://bit.ly/QoZniC

For further information, please contact:Michael Khambatta +41 79 474 8208

khambatta@martinennalsaward.org or visit www.martinennalsaward.org