What is the reason behind the Human Rights Defenders Tulip?

One of the core objectives of Dutch foreign policy is to promote human rights. Promoting human rights also contributes to global security and prosperity.

Improvements to the human rights situation in a country cannot be imposed from outside. We want to create conditions that encourage respect for human rights. One of the ways we do this is by supporting human rights defenders. They play a vital role in defending fundamental freedoms and are important drivers of democratisation processes.

People and organisations all over the world working peacefully to defend human rights regularly encounter violence and opposition. But still they keep going. The courage they display in their exceptional work for human rights deserves support. The Dutch government awards the Human Rights Defenders Tulip to recognise the importance of their efforts, singling out one especially deserving recipient each year.