African human rights activists honored

Two Africans are among four human rights advocates honored by the Human Rights Watch for their tireless and courageous work.

Daniel Bekele, a prominent anti-poverty activist and lawyer from Ethiopia and Mathilde Muhindo, women's rights activist working to stop sexual violence in Democratic Republic of Congo were awarded the prestigious Alison Des Forges Defender Award for Extraordinary Activism October 7, according to Human Rights Watch.

"These extraordinary individuals confront tremendous challenges every day, yet they work selflessly to end human rights violations and bring abusers to justice,"” said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

"We hope this award, named for Alison Des Forges, will inspire and protect them as they struggle to uphold human rights in their countries.”

The award winners will be honored at the 2009 Human Rights Watch Annual Dinners in Chicago, Geneva, Hamburg, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Toronto, and Zurich.

Mathilde Muhindo of Democratic Republic of Congo a director of the Olame Centre, a women's rights organization, empowers women to fight against the pervasive discrimination and horrific sexual violence that are endemic in the DRC. She led a coalition of local women's organizations to advocate successfully for a comprehensive law on sexual violence. Human Rights Watch honors her for her tireless dedication to the safety, health, and rights of the often-forgotten women in eastern Congo.

Daniel Bekele of Ethiopia has faced heavy-handed government repression in the ever-shrinking space for freedom of expression in the country.

After leading a grass-roots effort to promote voter education and participation in Ethiopia’s controversial 2005 parliamentary elections, as well as election monitoring and reconciliation after the vote, Bekele was arrested and spent two and a half years in prison on charges of inciting violence against the government.

The rights organization honors Bekele who, at great personal risk, challenges the Ethiopian government to uphold the civil and political rights that protect all people.

The award winners will be honored at the 2009 Human Rights Watch Annual Dinners in Chicago, Geneva, Hamburg, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Toronto, and Zurich.