Nominations are now being accepted for the 2008 Human Rights Defenders Tulip award established by the Dutch government to acknowledge persons who have shown exceptional moral courage in protecting and promoting the rights of fellow human beings.

Anyone who keeps up with the news knows that the observance of human rights is not something that can be taken for granted. Around the world, people are the victims of extreme violence, cannot freely develop their potential or live in degrading circumstances. Although states all over the world are party to a wide range of human rights instruments, those rights often still have to be fought for.

And that is what human rights defenders do. They are often exposed to danger and meet with a great deal of opposition. Defending human rights takes considerable courage. To emphasise the importance of the work of human rights defenders and to provide moral support to one of them each year, the Dutch Government has established the Human Rights Defenders Tulip. A special focus on human rights defenders is part of a new strategy formulated by the Dutch government in its policy document “Human dignity for all”, published in November 2007. (see link in upper right navigation).

A jury and a secretariat, independent of the Government, are responsible for the selection process. All nominations must be received by August 31 this year. The award will be presented by Mr. Verhagen, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs at a ceremony in The Hague on 9 December 2008.

For more information see  www.humanrightstulip.org