As part of their 2022 Human Rights Defenders at Risk Awards, Channel partner Front Line Defenders (FLD) recognized awardees from Afghanistan, Mexico, Sudan and Zimbabwe working on human rights issues such as sexual harassment in the workplace, forced and child marriage, forced disappearances, and Indigenous rights.
Established in 2005, the Front Line Defenders Human Rights Defenders at Risk Award honors human rights defenders (HRDs) who, through their non-violent work, are courageously making outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of the human rights of others. The winners were:
- Liah Ghazanfar Jawad, Afghanistan
- Ameira Osman Hamid, Sudan
- Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), Zimbabwe
- Javier del Tránsito and María del Tránsito Salvatierra, Mexico
- WHRD, Belarus (name withheld for security reasons)
In each case, working in contexts where states have cracked down on human rights defenders, the HRDs have faced various forms of harassment, threats, and violence, and some have been detained and charged. Each of these HRDs has demonstrated incredible courage, grace, and perseverance. The May 2022 edition of FLD’s online ‘zine Cypher celebrates these incredibly courageous human rights defenders from Afghanistan, Belarus, Mexico, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
