International Human Rights Award
The International Human Rights Award is intended to honor and give public recognition to an individual who has made a special contribution in the area of human rights in a foreign jurisdiction. American Bar Association members, leaders and other entities are invited to submit nominations for the ABA Section of Litigation International Human Rights Award the first quarter of each year. The award is given each year at a Section event during the ABA Annual Meeting in August.
Nominees for the award must have made substantial and long-term contributions in furtherance of civil rights, civil liberties, and/or human rights outside the United States. A “substantial” contribution shall be considered to be one demonstrating a level of dedication or achievement beyond that expected in the normal course of an individual’s work. Nominees must be a lawyer or judge, but from any jurisdiction.
Nominees should meet one or more of the following criteria:
- sustained, exceptional, direct representation of persons whose human rights have been violated;
- creation or significant expansion of access to a legal system for persons whose human rights may be or have been violated; and/or
- direct representation in one or more cases that resulted in significant benefits to persons or groups whose human rights are or were on the verge of being violated.
The Section of Litigation International Human Rights Award was created in response to the knowledge that in many countries with repressive regimes, the regime is less likely to take retaliatory action (or is likely to take less harsh action) against a human rights advocate if the advocate has international connections and relationships. The Section wants to stand behind those who have fought for basic human rights even when it may not be in their personal self-interest.
