Morocco’s Khadija Ryadi — former President of the Morocco Association for Human Rights — is one of five individuals to receive the UN’s prestigious 2013 Human Rights Prize. UN General Assembly
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* Moroccan women’s rights leader and advocate for human rights in general is one of five individuals and one organization to be recognized with the 2013 Human Rights Prize, awarded by the UN every five years *
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United Nations (New York, New York, December 11, 2013) — Marking International Human Rights Day, the United Nations has honored Morocco’s Khadija Ryadi — former President of the Morocco Association for Human Rights — as one of five individuals to receive the UN’s prestigious 2013 Human Rights Prize, which was presented Tuesday at the UN General Assembly’s commemorative meeting marking the 65th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The UN Human Rights Prizes, made “in recognition for outstanding achievement in human rights,” were presented by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson, who said that respect for human rights should be a way of life and remarked on the legacy and life of Nelson Mandela.
Mr. Eliasson He praised the accomplishments of the 2013 award recipients and said that “We are in this together and we can only succeed together if we are united in the pursuit of a life of dignity for all.”
Ms. Ryadi has been active as a human rights advocate since 1983, when she enlisted with the Moroccan Association for Human Rights.
She was commended by the UN for being “at the forefront of several human rights causes, including the fight against impunity, full equality between men and women, self-determination and freedom of expression regardless of sexual orientation,” as well as coordinating “a network of 22 human rights non-governmental organizations in Morocco.”
The UN General Assembly established the Human Rights Prize in 1966, and it was awarded for the first time on December 10 1968, the 20th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which became known widely as International “Human Rights Day”.
The Prize has been awarded every five years since 1968, and previous winners have included Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jimmy Carter and Amnesty International.
More than 150 nominations were received by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the 2013 Human Right Prize, which recognizes the achievements of the recipients, and is also a “clear message to human rights defenders the world over that the international community is grateful for and supports their tireless efforts.”
In addition to Morocco’s Ms. Ryadi, the 2013 Human Rights Prize was awarded to four other individuals and one organization, including:
Biram Dah Abeid, from Mauritania, who has been campaigning against slavery, and is the founder of the NGO “Initiative for the Resurgence of the Abolitionist Movement;”
Hiljmnijeta Apuk, a human rights activist and campaigner from Kosovo for the rights of people with disproportional restricted growth — short stature;
Malala Yousafzai, the student activist from Pakistan, who has become a symbol for young women’s rights around the world; and
Liisa Kauppinen, from Finland and president emeritus of the World Federation of the Deaf, who also advocates for the rights of women and women with disabilities;
The Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico, for its achievements in “promoting human rights through its interpretations and enforcement of Mexico’s Constitution and its obligations under international law.”
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For more information on the UN’s Human Rights Prize and the 2013 award winners, go to:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2013/ga11467.doc.htm
and https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/hr5164.doc.htm
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