THE AFRICAN UNION NELSON MANDELA AWARD

FOR HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

 

APPEAL FOR NOMINATIONS

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE AWARD

To be eligible for the Award, a candidate shall:

a) Be an African individual, groups, associations, Non-Governmental Organisations, and civil society organizations working toward the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa.

b). Promote all or any one of the following:

Civil and political rights; Socio-economic and cultural rights, including rights to health, water, shelter, land, consumer services, education, food, etc.; Women's rights; Children's rights; Labour rights; Human rights education; Human Rights policy advocacy; Humanitarian affairs, including IDPs and refugee rights; Right to self determination or solidarity rights; Minority, indigenous and environmental rights; Right to development; Peaceful resolution of conflicts; Poverty alleviation, anti-corruption, foreign debt issues and economic development policies ;Academic research on any of the above

c). Demonstrate all or any one of the following:

•  Innovative ways of promoting human rights at national or regional or international levels in his or her advocacy work.

•  Innovative ways of facing challenges at national or regional or international levels in his or her advocacy work.

d). Demonstrate that he or she risks or suffers, harassment or disadvantage for exercising the rights expressed in the International Bill of Rights, including both civil and political rights as well as socio-economic rights, the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, and who, in conformity with these instruments, promotes and protects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of others, individually or in groups.

e). Be sufficiently recognized at national level even though s/he may not be internationally well known.

SUBMITTING NOMINATIONS

a) Requirements for nominations

All nominations should fulfill the following requirements:

•  Candidate's profile

The candidate's profile- not more than 3 or 4 pages - should include the organization's / individual's name, address / contact details, work description, merits etc.

•  Nominations from other organizations/ individuals

An organization/ individual nominating another organisation/ individual should also indicate its name, address, contact details, etc. The written letter/recommendation/Script should not be more than 3 or 4 pages.

•  Nominations from the same organizations/ individuals

Nominations from the same organization / individual should be seconded by another person/organisation.

•  Referees

Every nomination should have two (2) referees including their names and contact details

b) Contact Address for submission of nominations

All nominations and relevant documentation should be submitted to the following address:

The African Union Commission

Department of Political Affairs

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Fax: +251 - 11 551 04 73/ 552 58 56

E-mail: ShourA@africa-union.org

CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATIONS :

All nominations should be received on or before the 10 June 2006 .

Nominations received after this date will not be considered.

CONTACTING CANDIDATES

The African Union Commission shall contact only the successful candidate for the award.