GA dec. 52/424, "Award of human rights prizes in 1998"

GA res. 2217 (XXI), "International Year for Human Rights"

  Previous awardees

  50th Anniversary of the UDHR

CHR res. 1998/7, "Question of a draft declaration on the right and responsibility of individuals, groups and organs of society to promote and protect universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms"

The United Nations Prizes in the Field of Human Rights were instituted by the General Assembly in 1966 (Res. 2217/XXI of 19 December 1966), to be awarded for the first time on 10 December 1968 on the occasion of the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Thereafter, the prizes have been awarded in 1973, 1978, 1988 and 1993 (see list of previous awardees). 

The prizes are honorary in nature; nominations are sought from Member States, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations in consultative status and other sources, according to the above-mentioned resolution. A Special Committee, composed of the President of the General Assembly, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the Chair of the Commission on Human Rights, the Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Chair of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities will be entrusted with selecting the winners of the human rights prize. 

In commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on 10 December 1998, the Secretary-General, at the plenary meeting of the General Assembly, awarded United Nations Prizes in the Field of Human Rights to:  Sunila Abeyesekera, Director of a human rights organization in Sri Lanka; Angelina Acheng Atyam, who has worked to secure the release of children in rebel captivity in Uganda; Jimmy Carter, former President of the United Sates, who contributed to bringing a peaceful solution to the civil war in Liberia; Jose Gregori, Head of the Brazilian National Secretariat for Human Rights; Anna Sabatova of the Czech Republic, one of the founding members of "Charter 77". A Prize was also given in honour of all human rights defenders. The commitment to human rights among ordinary people is represented by thousands of courageous individuals who struggle -- in civic organizations, in the courts, in police stations and in prisons, in the media, through trade unions and women's organizations -- to promote and protect the fundamental rights of others.

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The United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights
LIST OF PREVIOUS AWARDEES

FIRST AWARD - December 1968 - 20th Anniversary of the UDHR 

• Manuel Bianchi (Chile), Ambassador, Chairman of Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
• René Cassin (France), Original member of Human Rights Commission
• Chief Albert Luthuli (posthumously) (South Africa), President of the ANC
• Mehranguiz Manoutchehrian (Iran), Attorney/Legal Adviser and Senator
• Petr Emelyanovich Nedbailo (Ukraine), Member, Human Rights Commission
• Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt (posthumously) (United States), First Lady, President of the Human Rights Commission
SECOND AWARD - December 1973 - 25th Anniversary of the UDHR
• Dr. Taha Hussein (Egypt), Professor of Literature
• C. Wilfred Jenks (posthumously) (UK), Director-General of International Labour Office
• Maria Lavalle Urbina (Mexico), Lawyer, Professor
• Bishop Abel Muzorewa (Namibia), President of the ANC, Bishop of United Methodist Church
• Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (Mauritius), Prime Minister of Mauritius
• U Thant (Myanmar), Secretary-General of the United Nations
THIRD AWARD - December 1978- 30th Anniversary of the UDHR
• Begum Ra’Ana Liaquat Ali Khan (Pakistan)
• Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (Iran)
• Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King (Posthumously) (USA)
• Mrs. Helen Suzman (South Africa)
• The International Committee of the Red Cross
• Amnesty International
• Vicaria de la Solidaridad (Chile)
• Union nationale des femmes de Tunisie
FOURTH AWARD - December 1988- 40th Anniversary of the UDHR
• Baba Murlidhar Devidas Amte (India), Lawyer
• John Humphrey (Canada) Director, United Nations Division of Human Rights
• Prof. Adam Lopatka (Poland), President, Supreme Court of Poland
• Bishop Leonidas Proaño (Ecuador)
• Nelson Mandela (South Africa), Lawyer
• Winnie Mandela (South Africa), Medical Social Worker
FIFTH AWARD - December 1993- 45th Anniversary of the UDHR
• Mr. Hassib Ben Ammar (Tunisia), President of the Arab Institute for Human Rights
• Dr. Erica-Irene Daes (Greece), Chair/Rapporteur, Working Group on Indigenous Populations
• James Grant (USA), Executive Director of UNICEF
• The International Commission of Jurists (Geneva based)
• The Medical Personnel of the Central Hospital of Sarajevo 
• Dr. Sonia Picado Sotela (Costa Rica), Jurist, VP of Inter-American Court of Human Rights
• Ganesh Man Singh (Nepal), Supreme Leader of the Nepali Congress
• The Sudanese Women’s Union
• Father Julio Tumiri Javier (Bolivia), Founder and President, Permanent Assembly of Human Rights in Bolivia
SIXTH AWARD - December 1998- 50th Anniversary of the UDHR
• Sunila Abeyesekera (Sri Lanka), Director of a human rights organization in Sri Lanka
• Angelina Acheng Atyam (Uganda), who has worked to secure the release of children in rebel captivity in Uganda
• Jimmy Carter (U.S.A.), former President of the United Sates, who contributed to bringing a peaceful solution to the civil war in Liberia 
• Jose Gregori (Brazil), Head of the Brazilian National Secretariat for Human Rights
• Anna Sabatova (Czech Republic), one of the founding members of "Charter 77"
• A Prize was given in honour of all human rights defenders.