HRI-Prize for Human Rights

The idea of introducing a human rights award arose to protect human rights defenders, who often risk their lives to help the weaker ones. The prize is awarded to those who distinguished themselves through dedication and outstanding contribution in the promotion, documentation and defense of human rights, and often work in secret, without the necessary means and without public recognition. The prize will be an official mark of esteem, as well as provide moral and material support. In addition, he is supposed to protect these people and prevent them from reprisals by giving them visibility to the public opinion.

The prize is awarded every three years and has no predetermined level of allocation. HRI timely announces the name and the activity of the identified human rights defender and selectively collects donations to support his work. The donations collected solely for the prize are presented to the awardee in a public ceremony together with an official certificate.

The first time, the prize was conferred in December 2008, presented in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2003 EBADI SHIRIN, to the Iranian lawyer NASRIN SOTOUDEH for her particular use in the defense of human rights of women and minors in Iran.