More than 100 nominations for Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award

9 September 2009. This year 116 human rights defenders have been nominated for the Human Rights Defenders Tulip, the largest human rights award in the Netherlands. The potential laureates come from 63 countries around the world and represent all segments of society, ranging from a European parliamentarian to a Buddhist nun.

‘I’m pleased with the high number of nominations,’ says Minister Verhagen of Foreign Affairs. ‘It shows just how much this award for civil courage is appreciated.’

The Netherlands established the Human Rights Defenders Tulip Award as a token of recognition for a man or woman who showed exceptional moral courage in defending and promoting the rights of his or her fellow citizens. The award will be presented by Minister Verhagen on Monday 9 November in the Ridderzaal Hall in The Hague.

This year, 47 women and 69 men have been nominated; a total of 12 more nominations than last year. The countries with the most nominees are India (7), Israel and the Palestinian territories (6), Argentina (6) and Colombia (5).

An independent jury chaired by journalist Cisca Dresselhuys will select three potential laureates this month. From these three, the Dutch government will choose the winner of a bronze statuette and individual prize money of €10,000. The winner can also propose a project to the value of €100,000 aimed at advancing his or her work as a human rights defender.

In 2008, the Congolese human rights defender Justine Masika won the first Humans Rights Defenders Tulip. She fights for the rights of victims of sexual violence.