Sammi Deen Baloch, a prominent Pakistani human rights activist, has been awarded the prestigious Front Line Defenders Award 2024 in recognition of her tireless advocacy for human rights in South Asia. The award was presented during a special ceremony in Dublin on Friday.
Front Line Defenders, an international organization dedicated to protecting human rights defenders at risk, announced the winners of its top distinction, the 2024 Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk. The award highlights the courageous efforts of activists who face significant personal risk to defend the rights of others.
Speaking to Geo News from Dublin, Baloch expressed her gratitude: “It is an honour for me that my struggle has been recognised at the global level. It is very difficult to fight for human rights in Pakistan, but it is vital.” She vowed to continue her efforts to promote and protect human rights.
Established in 2005, the Front Line Defenders Award aims to honour human rights defenders (HRDs) who make outstanding contributions to human rights protection, often at great personal risk. The award shines a spotlight on their work, providing a broader platform for advocacy on both national and international stages.
The selection process for the award involves public nominations, which are conducted securely at the end of each year. The winners are announced on the day of the award ceremony in Dublin, typically held in May of the following year.
Baloch, who hails from Awaran in Balochistan and serves as the General Secretary of the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP), was selected from the Asia and Pacific region. She was among five recipients, including:
– Africa:
Gamito dos Santos Carlos of AJOPAZ, the Youth Association for Peace (Mozambique)
– Americas:
The Trans women collective Muñecas de Arcoíris (Honduras), represented by Jennifer Bexara Córdova
– Europe and Central Asia:
Doros Polykarpou of KISA (Cyprus)
– Middle East and North Africa:
We Are Not Numbers (Gaza, Palestine), represented by Ahmed Alnaouq
In a post on social media platform X, Baloch dedicated the award to Baloch women: “I hold the utmost respect for their tireless struggle. I also share this award with human rights activists across the world who are fighting for human rights and dignity, truth and justice.”
She reaffirmed her commitment to the cause, saying, “I will continue to fight for the safe release of all the missing persons including my father. Alongside my fellow human rights defenders, Baloch women, and the families of missing persons, I will continue to demand justice for the victims and their families. I will persist in my peaceful struggle against enforced disappearances and fight for the release of all missing persons.”
The Front Line Defenders Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk continues to celebrate and support the brave individuals who stand up for human rights in the face of adversity, shining a light on their indispensable contributions to justice and freedom.
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