Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders founded in Dublin in 2011 aims to protect human rights at risk. It is currently accepting nominations for its Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.
The Front Line Award is presented annually to one human rights defender who has made an outstanding contribution to the defense of the human rights of others despite the risk to themselves. The short list of nominees is drawn up by the jury which is made up of members of the Irish and European parliaments and the winner is announced at a ceremony organised by Front Line in Dublin.
In addition to giving publicity to the work of the winner Front Line also hopes that the publicity will act as an additional form of protection in the future and that the programme of high level political meetings will enable the winner to build up a network of useful contacts for future advocacy.
Nominations should give details of the human rights defender’s work, the risks or negative consequences experienced as a result of this work, why you think he/she should receive the award and how he/she might benefit from it. Nominations must be supported by two referees who can attest to the nominees work, their integrity and their commitment to non-violent means.
Individual nominees may not be a leading member of a political party and must be currently active in human rights work (the Front Line Award is not intended to recognise a historical or posthumous contribution.) Self nomination is not permitted.
Each January, Front Line drafts a shortlist of nominees for final selection by a jury of Irish elected representatives. The Award is presented at a ceremony in Dublin in May.
The deadline to submit nominations is 31 December 2010. For more, visit this link.
