Deadline: 30-Nov-2025
Amnesty International Philippines has launched the Ignite Awards for Human Rights, the first award-giving body in the country that is solely dedicated to honoring Human Rights Defenders. This initiative aims to recognize individuals and organizations whose work has significantly impacted human rights by changing lives, influencing policies, encouraging activism, and demanding accountability.
The awards were created to acknowledge the tireless efforts of people who work to advance human rights and to inspire others across the nation. By telling the stories of everyday individuals doing extraordinary human rights work, Ignite Awards seeks to reshape how people view human rights in society. It shows that anyone, regardless of their background or profession, can be a powerful force for change.
The Ignite Awards serve not just as recognition, but as a symbol of gratitude from Amnesty International Philippines to those fighting for peace, justice, equality, and human dignity. It is a celebration of courage and a call to continue the work for human rights.
There are several award categories. The Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender Award honors individuals or organizations that have made a significant impact on human rights, particularly in uplifting the marginalized. Their efforts must show measurable change in activism, public policy, or community empowerment.
The Outstanding Young Human Rights Defender Award recognizes individuals aged 25 or under who have taken bold steps in defending and promoting human rights. These young leaders have shown initiative, inspired their peers, and led their communities in human rights efforts.
The Art That Matters Award is given to artists who use their work to promote human rights and freedoms. Each season focuses on a specific art genre. For Season 4, the focus is on Visual Arts, celebrating painters, illustrators, digital artists, and others whose visual works have sparked conversation and activism.
To qualify for the Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender – Individual category, nominees must be Filipino citizens aged 26 or older, not active members of Amnesty International, and must be residing in the Philippines. They should have clearly contributed to the improvement of human rights in the country, both in measurable and meaningful ways.
For the organizational category, nominees must be legally recognized by a relevant Philippine government agency, led by Filipinos, and have shown a consistent record of meritorious human rights work that has made a real difference.
The Outstanding Young Human Rights Defender must be 25 years old or younger by May 28 of any award year, a Filipino citizen, not an active Amnesty member, and residing in the Philippines. The individual must have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to engaging youth in human rights causes.
For the Art That Matters category, nominees must be Filipino citizens residing in the Philippines, practicing artists in the current season’s genre (Visual Arts for Season 4), and must have a body of work that promotes human rights consistently through art. Active Amnesty International members are not eligible for any of the awards.
For more information, visit Amnesty International.
