By Cindy Trinh
Impunity Watch Reporter, Oceania
SUVA, Fiji – Human rights activist Shamima Ali, from Fiji, was awarded by Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand (AIANZ) as its first ever Human Rights Defender.
Ali is the executive director of the Fiji Women’s Crisis Center in Suva. She was given the award on behalf of her contributions towards improving women’s rights in Fiji and throughout the Pacific region.
She received the award on International Human Rights Day, December 10, which is the day the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights was adopted 61 years ago.
The chief executive of AIANZ, Patrick Holmes, said that he saluted Ali “for the immense courage she has shown in challenging the 2006 military coup and in continuing, despite threats and intimidation, to document its impact on the people of Fiji.”
Holmes further stated: “Human rights defenders put themselves on the front line, often risking life and limb to stand up for what they believe in. While we may take that for granted in New Zealand, we still need to remember that human rights abuses are happening on our doorstep.”
Ali stated that this recognition is a big step towards increasing awareness of the abuses happening in the Pacific region. She emphasized that this recognition is especially important in Fiji, where violations of human rights is very high.
In response to her award, Ali stated: “[AIANZ] should be commended for establishing this award. While I’m the recipient, one must remember the many other human rights defenders in Fiji and the rest of the Pacific who work just as hard. The work doesn’t end – every day we are challenged anew. And this award gives me further encouragement never to give up defending out rights. This is what makes us human.”
Ali further stated that “this kind of award encourages both myself and other human rights defenders…protectors and promoters of human rights in Fiji and the Pacific, to stick in there a little longer and continue to work.”
Despite the joyous day, Holmes noted that there is still work to be done. He stated: “As we celebrate how far we have come in the right to eradicate human rights abuses around the world, this date and this award are reminders of how far we still have to go to achieve human rights for all people everywhere.”
For more information, please see:
ABC Radio Australia – Shamima Ali Amnesty Award – 11 December 2009
ConnectME – Fiji’s Shamima Ali wins Amnesty Human Rights Defender Award – 11 December 2009
Infonews.co.nz – Pacific women’s rights campaigner honoured by Amnesty International – 11 December 2009
Radio New Zealand International – Fiji’s Shamima Ali wins Amnesty Human Rights Defender award – 10 December 2009
