Every Human Has Rights Media Awards
Celebrating the very best in citizen and mainstream human rights journalism
Context and Issue:
The 'Every Human Has Rights' media awards were inspired by The Elders, a group of respected leaders convened by Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Peace Prize winner known the world over for his fight against apartheid in South Africa, and Graça Machel, an international advocate for women's and children's rights. Internews, which has trained more than 70,000 people in media skills in more than 70 countries as an international media development development organisation, is their partner.
Project's activities:
Thirty winners were selected by an independent, international jury made up of experienced journalists and human rights activists and chaired by Jimmie Briggs, a UN goodwill ambassador and author of Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War. The winners were flown to Paris to receive their awards on December 6, 2008. Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Irish President Mary Robinson, who served as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002, spoke at the event. At the awards ceremony, seven special prizes among the 30 winners were awarded, including the open prize for the most eye-opening report that was determined by public vote: - Best TV: Michael Duffy (Australia) for 'Nike Human Rights Investigation' - Best radio: Rodrigo Tornero (Argentina) for 'It’s my body' - Best print (online and offline): Mário Magalhães and Joel Silva (Brazil) for 'The anti-heroes – The underworld of sugarcane' - Best citizen journalism/ blog item: Raby Idoumou Bouh (Mauritania) for 'The Youngest Mauritanian Divorcee' - Best investigative report: Anas Aremeyaw and Mary Fianko Akuffo (Ghana) for 'Human For Sale Dons Exposed' - Most courageous investigation/ best unpublished story: Anas Aremeyaw and Mary Fianko Akuffo (Ghana) for 'Human For Sale Dons Exposed' (two prizes) - Prize by public vote for the most eye-opening report: Ben Fundis, Clara Long and John Drew from the United States of America for 'Border Stories'
Participants and Beneficiaries:
The celebration of the Every Human Has Rights campaign and awards ceremony took place the Maison des Arts et Metiers in Paris. Speakers included François Zimeray, the French Ambassador for Human Rights; Jimmy Carter, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of the United States; Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and member of the Elders; and Stephane Hessel, Ambassadeur de France and participant in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. Heads of EHHR partner organisations also spoke on behalf of the campaign and their associated work.
Outcomes:
Over 250 personalities from the human rights and media communities attended the event, including honoured guests such as fellow Elders Kofi Annan, Ela Bhatt, Gro Brundtland, entrepreneur Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel. The audience enjoyed a mix of engaging speeches surrounding the Declaration, the Anniversary and the campaign, alongside a presentation of the 30 winning stories and the seven special awards.
"Local journalists around the world play a key role in advancing human rights."
Annette Makino, ex-Internews senior vice president for communications and external affairs
"It was very inspiring to see how courageous journalists around the world are bringing human rights abuses to the light of day."
Mariane Pearl, Jury member, journalist and widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was murdered in Pakistan in 2002 by Islamic extremists
