Deadline: 31-Aug-23
Nominations are now open for the Human Rights Defenders Awards to honor and publicly recognize the important work of HRDs in Kenya, by giving out awards to individuals who have demonstrated courage, innovation, and impact in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Civic space in Kenya continues to be under pressure as a range of actions is being directed against the work of Human Rights Defenders (HRD) and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) in Kenya. Physical attacks, criminal and administrative actions, reprisals, legislative restrictions, negative rhetoric, and limitation of human rights have undermined the constitutional and international protection available to HRDs. It is against this backdrop that the Working Group on Human Rights Defenders in Kenya, which brings together CSOs, the UN, and development partners concerned with the protection of HRDs, is organizing the Eight edition of the HRD Awards on the 1st December 2023.
Objectives
- The objectives of these awards are to:
- Profile the work of HRDs and the challenges they face as agents of social change and transformation.
- Recognize and appreciate the human rights work of young and upcoming HRDs in Kenya and support talent.
- Enhance the safety and protection of all HRDs in Kenya.
- Recognize innovation in engaging with human rights work.
Award Categories
- Upcoming Human Rights Defenders: Individuals or movements that have been active in the human rights movement ranging between 0-5 years and have shown exemplary courage, overcoming great difficulty and demonstrated courage in championing for the protection and promotion of human rights.
- Human Rights Defender of the year: Individuals or movement who have illustrated exemplary courage, overcoming great difficulty and demonstrated courage in taking up and challenging current human rights concerns within the past year.
- Munir Mazrui Lifetime Achievement Award: Seasoned Individuals or movements whose work illustrates great commitment over an extensive period of time in the protection and promotion of human rights with great courage having overcome great difficulty and has demonstrated achievement throughout their work and life.
- Global Solidarity: Individuals or movements whose actions have stood in solidarity and made tremendous contribution to the advancement of the human rights movement in Kenya. These could be Kenyans or foreigners who in the past have contributed to human rights advancement in Kenya from a regional of global level.
Award Details
- Four awards will be presented to the overall winners: The Munir Mazrui lifetime achievement award, the HRD of the year award, and the Upcoming HRD award and the Global Solidarity Award.
- The winners will receive:
- A cash award of $ 1,000
- A plaque with the HRD’s or the group/organization’s name on it
- Will be a guest at the HRD award ceremony in 2023.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Working group will recognize the contribution of HRDs who promote and protect human rights in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
- Nominations are open to human rights defenders with demonstrable courage, innovation, and impact of their human rights work on the community.
- You can self-nominate or nominate an individual that you believe are deserving.
Selection Process
- Nomination:
- The Working Group on Human Rights Defenders in Kenya develops a call for nominations, which is then widely circulated by the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders-Kenya, also referred to as Defenders Coalition and other partners.
- Shortlisting:
- A panel comprised of Human Rights Defenders, missions and organizations involved in the planning of the HRD Awards then shortlists five individuals per category within the set-out guidelines for shortlisting candidates.
- Verification:
- Defenders Coalition verifies the HRD’s human rights work through field visits, and interviews with the nominators, the nominees, and their references.
- Selection:
- The Independent Jury Panel, which comprises eminent individuals in the human rights sector, makes a final decision, from the names submitted, on the recipient of the three awards and the runner up.
- Award ceremony:
- Will be held on the 1st December 2023 in the presence of CSOs, the UN, the government, selected HRDs, representatives from the International Missions, and the media who will cover the event.
For more information, visit Defenders Coalition.