Benazir Bhutto Among Seven Winners of UN Human Rights Prize

(GENEVA) - A Congolese doctor who treats female victims of sexual violence, a nun who advocated for indigenous rights before her murder in Brazil three years ago and the slain Pakistani leader Benazir Bhutto are among seven recipients of a prestigious United Nations prize awarded for outstanding work in human rights.

The UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights, awarded by the General Assembly every five years, will be presented this year at a ceremony in New York on 10 December to mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

This year’s winners, announced today, include Louise Arbour, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Ramsey Clark, ex-Attorney-General of the United States; Carolyn Gomes, Executive Director and co-founder of Jamaicans for Justice; Denis Mukwege, co-founder of the General Referral Hospital of Panzi in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); and Human Rights Watch.

Ms. Bhutto, the former Pakistani prime minister, and Dorothy Stang of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur are also being posthumously honoured.

An ardent advocate for democracy and for the human rights of the most vulnerable sections of society, particularly women, children and minority rights, Ms. Bhutto was twice elected prime minister of Pakistan. After returning to Pakistan late last year following years in exile, Ms. Bhutto was assassinated in an attack in Rawalpindi.

Sr. Stang defended the human rights of the poor, landless and indigenous populations of the Anapu region of Brazil for nearly 40 years, despite numerous death threats. She worked with farmers to help rebuild their livelihoods, cultivate their land and defend their rights from loggers and ranchers, becoming a symbol of the fight to preserve the rainforest before being killed in 2005.

Prior to her role as High Commissioner, Ms. Arbour served as the Chief Prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and was responsible for the first indictment in history of a sitting head of state, Slobodan Miloševic.

Mr. Clark, a veteran human rights defender and rule of law advocate, played a key role in the civil rights and peace movements in the US, and more recently has spoken out against abuses committed in the name of “counter-terrorism.”

Under Dr. Gomes’ leadership, Jamaicans for Justice has become the premier human rights advocacy group in the Caribbean country, developing innovative local and international partnerships to advance the cause of human rights.

For more than 10 years Dr. Mukwege has devoted himself to helping women and girls who are victims of sexual violence in the war-torn DRC region of South Kivu, setting up specialized services for their treatment and training nurses, obstetricians and doctors so that all those who come to the hospital can be helped.

Human Rights Watch has documented human rights violations across the globe and advocated for the promotion of human rights and freedoms for some 30 years. The organization has played a key role in major advocacy campaigns, such as for the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and more recently the Cluster Munitions Coalition.

“As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we acknowledge the tireless work and invaluable contribution of these individuals and organizations that have fought to see the rights and freedoms embodied in this historic document become a reality for people in all corners of the world,” said Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto.

“These awardees constitute symbols of persistence, valour and tenacity in their resistance to public and private authorities that violate human rights. They constitute a moral force to put an end to systematic human rights violations,” Mr. D’Escoto said in a press release issued today.

The prize was first awarded on December 10th 1968 on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the UDHR and previous recipients have included Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter and Amnesty International.

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Henry Ruark November 28, 2008 2:39 pm (Pacific time)

m/t:
You wrote:"I NEVER said ANYTHING about the holocaust. I have no research on the subject. So, to try and put me in that catagory just shows how desperate you are."

Yours demonstrates continuing misinterpretation of factual statements on your part. That was obvious comparison with what you DID present, NOT statement you had written anything about the H itself.
SO again yours here shows real denial signs, worth your time to check out, stated with all good wishes.
Your participation well appreciated here for several reasons, some needing to stay unstated, but surely obvious to others.

Henry Ruark November 28, 2008 2:07 pm (Pacific time)

m.t.: Appreciate your partial return to civility and sterling record of prescience re world events. Re deep criticism of the mainstream media, have been so engaged for some years past and will continue. See some 15 past Op Eds, all in Archives. Re "putting you down" intention as always to aid in understandings for obviously missed information or misguided by distortion from others. Re oil prices, speculators do that allatime, some lose, some win. Hope you were lucky. Re 9/11, if your source was other than mystical, you had heavy responsibility. Did you act on it ? Re SJ, Gannettoid virus is highly dangerous and damaging as my 30yr. surveillance files surely do prove, starting with 43% ad rate-rise after they killed weekly competitor. See CHAIN GANG for full details, nationally noted and wellknown in profession. Re s/N use, you pays your nickel and can apply paper wherever your most pressing need demands. Hola to you, sir ! Please let us know when your Bible is published... ( Age 50 ?; "comfortable" ?; may still live long enough to learn more about life and its realities.)

muchtruth November 27, 2008 2:44 pm (Pacific time)

Millions came out today and shouted "IT WAS NOT AL CIADA"
Many of us spent time to spread the word in regards to who the federal reserve bank actually is..
And now, the mainstream is changing their tune.
We will NOT fall for another false flag attack, to keep the warmongers in business.
We will PEACEFULLY shout the truth.
They can taser us, put us in a free-speech zone miles from the event, they can inact HR1955, and get rid of the posse commitatus act. They can spend our tax money to bring army brigades to the U.S. soil (proven) for civil dissent. They can use violence, but we wont. Truth is our choice. In my opinion, today proved it when the SJ posted another article saying it wasnt al CIAda.
Our voices are being heard.

muchtruth November 27, 2008 1:41 pm (Pacific time)

All I did was share what she said. And I did because she seems believable, and I try to keep in touch with those things. Did she lie Henry"? Is she a liar? I NEVER said ANYTHING about the holocaust. I have no research on the subject. So, to try and put me in that catagory just shows how desperate you are. By the way Henry. I am 50. When I was 40 I lived check to check. A single parent. I am now, not only retired, but have ZERO worries about the economy, accept for the fact that with a bad economy will come taking our civil liberties even more. Why? because I have learned how to research, and found trusted people. Both my kids are in college, and I dont owe a dime. I knew about the terrorist attack on 911 before it happened. I did not know the date, but knew it was coming. I posted on this webiste, when oil was $147 a barrel that it would go down to $50 a barrel before the end of the year. I posted that 2008/2009 will bring an economic crisis over two-three years ago. I posted earlier this morning on the SJ that the mainstream media is pushing AL CIAda on the India incident. I got laughed at. UNTIL, the SJ posted a new article that shows it clearly wasnt them. By the way Henry..It is YOU who is goin to be the downturn of this country, because you are following the elite rules to a tee. If we question, put us in a fema camp, or jail, or an asylum. Proof to my thoughts above: I listened to this radio show in June 25, 2001..and even faxed the white house. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGtOFudmHG8 In reards to the $50 gas... lucky me;; Alex Jones is on vacation and doing past shows so its on today. At 4:17 pm, go to infowars.com, click on the radio show (windows media seems to be best), and listen. If you do not investigate me, then you have no right to commit me to a hospital. Also, look up "operation mockinbird"...all documented. Look up Gulf of Tonkin"..all documented. I have a family Henry, I dont get a second chance if I get fooled. So, I dont. My next prediction? End of the dollar within a year. An international crisis within the next 6 months. Colin Powell says Jan 21 or 22, but Biden, Madelyn Albriht, and bryzinski, dont give exact dates, they just say soon. Instead of putting ME down, why not write the mainstream media and tell THEM they need a doctor. THey are the ones not living in reality, and today proved it even more. People are goin to soon see "reality" and I feel bad for them, that is why I try to spread truth.

Henry Ruark November 27, 2008 12:17 pm (Pacific time)

m-t: You seem to overlook that one can find almost anything, stating almost anything, if you seek it long enough on Internet. Some still insist there was no Holocaust, for instance. Denial of reality is serious systematic symptom and should cause rapid run for counselor help.

muchtruth November 27, 2008 10:25 am (Pacific time)

I have learned much about this special lady. She is quite Amazing. Very honest lady, who, in an interview, actually said osama bin laden had died years ago. you can search youtube with the words "bhutto osama dead" if you are interested in hearin it.

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Benazir Bhutto Among Seven Winners of UN Human Rights Prize

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