The human rights defenders tulip

Anyone who keeps up with the news knows that human rights cannot be taken for granted everywhere. People all over the world fall victim to violence. People all over the world live in degrading circumstances. Countless nations have signed declarations and treaties which stipulate basic human rights, but defending those rights often involves a struggle.

That is what human rights defenders do. They regularly face resistance and violence in the course of their work. It is their exceptional courage that keeps them going. The Dutch Government awards the Human Rights Defenders Tulip to emphasise the importance of their commitment and to encourage one of these human rights defenders in their efforts each year. This award is a result of the human rights strategy, as set out in the foreign policy document entitled ‘Naar een menswaardig bestaan’.