FAQ – Civil Rights Defenders of the Year Award
What is the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award?
The Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award is an award for outstanding work in defence of civil and political rights. It is awarded every year by Civil Rights Defenders. With the award, we recognise prominent human rights defenders who, despite the risks to their own safety, continue the struggle for civil and political rights. The award highlights the situation of human rights defenders at risk. It enhances their human rights work by providing international recognition and support to the award recipient.
Since when have you been awarding the Civil Rights Defenders of the Year Award?
Civil Rights Defenders has awarded the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award every year since 2013.
How do you select the award recipient?
The recipient of each award is selected by the Board of Civil Rights Defenders. The selection is made from candidates presented to the Board by the organisation’s secretariat. The secretariat makes their choices based on nominations submitted from our worldwide network of human rights defenders, human rights organisations, and other relevant partners.
How can I nominate someone for the award?
Nomination for the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award is by invitation only. Civil Rights Defenders invites its worldwide network of human rights defenders and human rights organisations to nominate candidates for the award.
Who is receiving this year’s award?
The Board of Civil Rights Defenders has selected this year’s award recipient, to be presented in late April.
Aren’t there other human rights defenders who deserve attention?
Civil Rights Defenders supports thousands of human rights defenders from all over the world. We are proud to be able to continue these partnerships and everyone is equally important. Each year several high-quality nominations are submitted by Civil Rights Defenders’ network. Civil Rights Defenders’ Board chooses the candidate that meets the criteria best.
In what way does Civil Rights Defenders support the recipient in the day-to-day work?
When a recipient is chosen, Civil Rights Defenders assesses together with the recipient how we best can work long-term to support their human rights work. Civil Rights Defenders has over 200 long-term partnerships around the world and each partnership is unique in order to strengthen local civil societies in line with our mission.
Does the award make any difference?
The award creates recognition and credibility for human rights defenders and their work. Many times, the recognition also works as a protective shield against threats and attacks directed at the recipient and their organisation. Human rights defenders operate under extreme pressure and the psychosocial aspects of recognition and support help them endure this pressure while at the same time, governments and those in power become aware that the world is watching them.
Will the award make the work of the recipient more difficult?
When a recipient has been chosen by Civil Rights Defenders’ Board, the recipient is contacted and asked if they want to receive the award. Civil Rights Defenders and the recipient stay in close contact and discuss all aspects of the award to ensure that the award strengthens their work for human rights. For many award recipients, receiving the award strengthens their security thanks to the international recognition that the award entails.
What does the award consist of?
The award consists of a statuette, a diploma and a joint effort with the award recipient to raise awareness about their work.
Who are the past award recipients?
The award recipients typically work in countries in which they are not free to do their vital human rights work, or in which their rights to do so are under attack. In response, they have stood up to defend civil and political rights for both themselves and for others. For a full list of past award recipients, see here.
How can I contribute to the work of Civil Rights Defenders?
The easiest way to contribute to our work is via a gift to Civil Rights Defenders. Your gift strengthens human rights defenders in some of the world’s most repressive regions. Click here to learn how to support our work.
I’m a journalist and have questions about the award. How do I get in touch?
Press inquiries are welcome. You can reach us at +46 (0)76 576 27 62 or press@crd.org.