Chechen human rights defender receives Martin Ennals Award

The 2004 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA) ceremony is to take place in Geneva on April 7. This year's MEA goes to Lida Yusupova, head of the Grozny Office of the Human Rights Center Memorial.

Lida Yusupova is a member of the Board of Lawyers of the Chechen Republic. Since the autumn of 2000, the office of the Human Rights Center Memorial which she is the head of has been providing legal assistance to victims of the armed conflict free of charge and performing large work to monitor the human rights situation in the Chechen Republic. Lida Yusupova does more than arrange all this work. She herself protects interests of victims in their relations with authorities and goes out to the places where purges, killings and disappearances have occurred to question witnesses and victims.

The MIA is presented annually to active defenders of human rights from different countries. Martin Ennals (1927-1991) was instrumental to the modern human rights movement. He was the first Secretary-General of Amnesty International and the driving force behind many other organisations. His deep desire was to see more cooperation and solidarity among NGOs. The MEA is evidence that this is possible.

The Martin Ennals Foundation is a unique collaboration among ten of the world's leading non-governmental human rights organisations. The Jury is composed of the following: Amnesty International (AI), Defence for Children International (DCI), Human Rights Desk Diakonie Germany, Human Rights Watch (HRW), HURIDOCS, International Alert (IA), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the International Federation for Human Rights Leagues (FIDH), the International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT). The previous 10 recipients of the MEA are Alirio Uribe MuЯoz, Colombia (2003); Jacqueline Moudeina, Chad (2002); Peace Brigades International, Colombia (2001); Immaculee Birhaheka, Congo (2000); Natasa Kandic, Yugoslavia (1999); Dr. Eyad El Sarraj, Palestine (1998); Samuel Ruiz Garcia, Mexico (1997); Clement Nwankwo, Nigeria (1996); Asma Jahangir, Pakistan (1995); Harry Wu, China (1994).

Chairman of the MEA Jury Hans Thoolen called Lida one of the most courageous women in Europe today. "There is a complete consensus among all human rights organisations that Lida deserves the award for her tireless efforts in a situation of war and extreme danger, with increased risk for women," he said.

The award ceremony will be transmitted by the Swiss television and some all-European TV channels to millions of people.