Svetlana Gannushkina received prize from Foreign Affairs Minister

The HFHR had the pleasure of hosting Svetlana Gannushkina and Laila Rogozina, Russian human rights defenders of the Civic Assistance Committee.

The activists visited Poland to be presented with the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ award “Pro Dignitate Humana” bestowed on their organisation. The Civic Assistance Committee works to support rights of refugees and migrants.

During the prize award ceremony Ms Gannushkina, the organisation’s chairperson, emphasised that human rights play enormous role in contemporary world. She said that defence of human rights is a civic duty.

The “Pro Dignitate Humana” award was established in 2011 and ever since has been bestowed in recognition of dedication, uncompromising action and steadfastness in defence of human rights and respect for human dignity, and rights of individuals who are persecuted or likely to be subject of oppression.

In previous years, the award was given to the Belorussian human rights activist Ales Belyatsky; “Memorial” (also an organisation of Svetlana Gannushkina), a Russian NGO acting for the rehabilitation of victims of political oppression, providing aid to refugees and involved in human rights advocacy in Northern Caucasus; Pakistani lawyer Asma Jahangir; and Russian human rights activist Lyudmila Alekseyeva.

Ms Gannushkina and Ms Rogozina, please accept our heartfelt congratulations.