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Syria: UPDATE - Human Rights defender and winner of the 2008 Front Line Award Anwar Al - Bunni released from prison, Sunday 22 May)posted on: 2011/05/23

Anwar Al-Bunni winner of the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk has been released on Sunday May 22, 2011. He finished serving his sentence on the 17th of May 2011 but was taken initially to a branch of the security apparatus before being finally released today.

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Anwar Al-Bunni was originally sentenced to a five year prison sentence because of his courageous work defending human rights defenders and opposition activists facing charges before the State Security Court. He had also set up a human rights centre in Damascus to support the work of human rights defenders and publicly denounced the use of torture in Syrian prisons.

During the 2008 Front line Award ceremony President McAleese of Ireland spoke of the importance of the work being done by human rights defenders: "Among them are the heroic and the self-sacrificing few who refuse to accept the strangulation of freedom, the silencing of voices raised in protest against abuse and in defence of human rights. Such individuals have an extraordinary moral power, a power that is precisely what places them in danger.

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Syria: UPDATE - Human Rights defender and winner of the 2008 Front Line Award Anwar Al - Bunni released from prison, today (Monday 23 May)posted on: 2011/05/23

Anwar Al-Bunni winner of the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk has been released today. He finished serving his sentences on the 17th of May 2011 but was taken initially to a branch of the security apparatus before being finally released today released today.

Dublin: 2011 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk goes to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work in Chechnyaposted on: 2011/05/05

Today in Dublin Mary Robinson, president of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, presented the annual Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work investigating torture and disappearances in Chechnya despite the serious risks.

Dublin: 2011 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk goes to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work in Chechnya posted on: 2011/05/05

Today in Dublin Mary Robinson, president of the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, presented the annual Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to the Joint Mobile Group of the Russian Federation for their outstanding work investigating torture and disappearances in Chechnya despite the serious risks.

The Award was presented to Mr Igor Kalyapin founder and President of the Joint Mobile Group at the Award ceremony in Dublin's City Hall. Presenting the Award Mrs Robinson said '''“The work of the Joint Mobile Group is an inspirational example of how committed individuals, despite all the pressures that are brought to bear on them, can hold the line in defence of justice, truth and the rule of law. It is the denial of access to justice that enables tyrants to prevail.

2007 Gégé Katana winner of 2007 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk

Gégé Katana is a leading human rights defender working in Uvira, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Gégé Katana is the president of Solidarite des Femmmes Activistes pour la Defense des Droits Humains, SOFAD (Solidarity Movement of Women Human Rights Activists) an organisation that works through a grassroots network of 625 women to research and campaign against sexual violence, and provide counselling and help to rape survivors. SOFAD also educates local communities on women and children’s rights, and lobbies the government to deliver justice and reform discriminatory laws.

Gégé Katana has worked with several non-governmental organisations including; IDEA/Afrique - Institut pour le developpement et l’education des adultes. She is a network member of the Global Fund for Women and Coordinator for the Synergie des Femmes Defenseurs des Droits de le l'Homme du Sud-Kivu en RDC.

The scale and horror of sexual violence against women and girls in Eastern DRC prompted Gégé Katana to work with SOFAD.

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Dublin: Human Rights Defenders from 5 countries nominated for 2010 Front Line Award posted on: 2010/04/23

Front Line was joined by a cross party panel of TD's to announce the short listed nominees for this year's Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at risk at Buswell's Hotel, Dublin .

Dublin: Martin Sheen Presents Front Line Award 2009 to Dr Yuri Melini of Guatemala posted on: 2009/05/08

Dr Yuri Melini was awarded the Front Line Award because of his work to uphold the rights indigenous people of Guatemala against the ruthless interests of the logging and mining companies who put the profits of their companies before the interests of the community. On 4 September Yuri Melini was shot 7 times as he was leaving his home and as a result spent 22 days in intensive care. He was shot because his human rights work challenged the interests of powerful people.

New York: Martin Sheen and Bertie Ahern pay tribute to Syrian human rights defender Anwar al-Bunni posted on: 2008/06/11

Today, Front Line the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders will be joined by actor and campaigner Mr Martin Sheen and former Taoiseach ( Prime Minister) of Ireland, Mr Bertie Ahern TD, at a special lunch held at the United Nations in New York. The event is to celebrate the awarding of the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to Anwar al-Bunni of Syria.