Call for nominations for Human Rights Defenders Tulip 2009

MANILA, Philippines - Nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 Human Rights Defenders Tulip award. The award, an initiative of the Dutch Government, will be presented by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs on Nov. 9.

Established last year by the Dutch government, the Human Rights Defenders Tulip is an expression of appreciation intended to acknowledge persons who have shown exceptional moral courage in protecting and promoting the rights of fellow citizens.

“Human rights defenders need to have the opportunity to do their work well, in safety. They unfortunately often face threats and become the target of human rights violations. The Human Rights Defenders Tulip brings them out of anonymity. That is why the Dutch government views this award as a necessity,” Minister Verhagen explains.

Only individuals can be nominated for the award; organizations are not eligible for consideration. They should be human rights defenders who work full-time to promote or protect human rights. They should have faced or be at risk of facing negative personal consequences as a result of their work. The individual nominees are activists who could benefit from the recognition and visibility associated with winning the award.

The winner receives an official commemorative statuette, the Human Rights Defenders Tulip, and an individual cash award of 10,000 euros. He or she also has the opportunity to submit a proposal for a project to the value of up to 100,000 euros, to be used to intensify the winner’s work as a human rights defender.

Congolese human rights defender Justine Masika received the first Human Rights Defenders Tulip in 2008, presented by Minister Verhagen. Masika heads an organization that combats widespread sexual violence that women face in the armed conflict in eastern Congo.

Nominations must be received by Aug. 23. For more information on and nominations to the Human Rights Defenders Tulip, visit: www.humanrightstulip.org or contact the Secretariat of the Human Rights Defenders Tulip, Chris Collier, at [email protected]