B’Tselem shortlisted for 2014 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize

28 August 2014

Photo: Henryk Prykiel cc-by-sa-3.0

B'Tselem, Anar Mammadli from Azerbaijan, and the Jesuit Refugee Service from Malta were announced today in Prague as the shortlisted candidates for the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize. The prize is awarded by the Council of Europe to organizations and individuals doing outstanding civil society work in defense of human rights in Europe and throughout the world. It is awarded annually during the plenary session of the Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation.

A selection panel chaired by Anne Brasseur, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, chose the three finalists from among 56 nominees.

B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories has championed human rights in the Occupied Territories for 25 years, through public advocacy and the collection and publication of reliable information about human rights violations. During Israel's recent military operation in Gaza, B’Tselem provided ongoing information about harm caused to civilians by the IDF and Hamas. This exposed the organization and its staff, both in Gaza and in Israel, to scathing criticism that, at times, escalated into violence.
The Jesuit Refugee Service from Malta is a non-governmental organization working to protect the human rights of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, through legal advice, psychosocial support and humanitarian assistance. Much of its work is focused on detention centers, where staff and volunteers assist detainees.
Anar Mammadli is an Azerbaijani human rights defender working vigorously for the cause of free elections. He is the founder and chairperson of an influential organization in Azerbaijan that has been observing elections since 2001. Last year, he was arrested and charged with "abuse of power" and other offenses, and sentenced to 5.5 years in prison.

Hagai El-Ad, B’Tselem Executive Director: “We are honored to be shortlisted for the Václav Havel Prize, along with such respected colleagues. International recognition of the importance of our work is encouraging, especially in the context of the recent war and its painful, regrettable outcomes in Israel and in Gaza”.

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