The US State Department today honored eight people for their role in defending human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world, paying tribute to the leader of an organization that defends political prisoners in Azerbaijan, where he is being held.
"The award honors eight courageous individuals who promote and defend human rights and fundamental freedoms around the world. The awardees have demonstrated leadership, courage, and impact in their work," the US State Department said in a statement about the winners of the 'Human Rights Defender Award'.
The department led by Antony Blinken stressed that among the awardees are "advocates for transparency and accountability, the rights of members of vulnerable communities and marginalized populations, the release of unjustly detained individuals, and labor rights."
"Each awardee is a testament to the bravery and tenacity of human rights defenders around the world, who often carry out this work at great personal risk," it read.
US diplomacy singled out Rufat Safarov of Azerbaijan in particular, noting that the leader of Defense Line, a civil society organization that documents and reports on politically motivated detentions and prosecutions, government corruption, and allegations of torture, was “unjustly detained by Azerbaijani authorities” on December 3, 2024, and remains in detention, calling for “his immediate release.”
Also honored was Mary Ann Abunda, a migrant workers’ rights advocate in Kuwait, who “has herself been a victim of abuse and exploitation of migrant workers (...) and has led grassroots advocacy campaigns and helped establish networks and resources for migrant workers, including access to legal aid, counseling, and shelter.”
Amparo Carvajal, a human rights defender in Bolivia for over 50 years and co-founder and president of the Bolivian Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDHB), also received the distinction.
"Under her leadership, APDHB continues to provide support and free services to victims and survivors of human rights violations and their families," the US diplomacy highlighted.
Another honoree was Aida Dzhumanazarova, country director and legal counsel for the International Center for Nonprofit Law (ICNL) in the Kyrgyz Republic, with the US highlighting her "career spanning more than a decade (...) instrumental in fostering an enabling environment and empowering civil society in her country".
Also honored was Mang Hre Lian, who "spent her career working to advance human rights, religious freedom, media freedom and youth political participation in Burma".
Thulani Maseko, a lawyer and advocate for civil rights and a peaceful democratic transition in Eswatini, was awarded the award posthumously.
"He was assassinated by an unknown assailant in 2023. Maseko has spent his career advocating for democracy and human rights, including serving as head of the Swaziland Student Representative Council and founding the Human Rights Lawyers Association," the State Department said.
The US also recognized Ebenezer Peegah, a "dedicated human rights activist and pioneer of LGBTQI+ equality in Ghana," and founder and CEO of Rightify Ghana, an NGO "dedicated to advancing the rights of sexual and gender minorities."
And Juana Alicia Ruiz, an artist, teacher, social leader, and head of ASVIDAS, an organization "dedicated to defending survivors of gender-based violence in Colombia."
