Pakistani schoolgirl and education rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai and American singer, human rights and social justice activist Harry Belafonte were today jointly announced as the recipients of Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2013.
– The Award will be presented at a ceremony on Tuesday evening at the Mansion House, Dublin, Ireland.
– Images and video footage of the Award Ceremony will be available on the night.
The Ambassador of Conscience Award is Amnesty International’s highest honour, recognizing individuals who have promoted and enhanced the cause of human rights through their life and by example. The 2013 Award is to be presented at a ceremony on Tuesday evening at the Mansion House, Dublin, Ireland.
“Our two new Ambassadors of Conscience are different from each other in many ways, but they share a dedication to the fight for human rights everywhere and for all,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International. “Harry and Malala are truly Ambassadors of Conscience, speaking up for universal rights, justice and human dignity and inspiring others to follow their example.”
Malala Yousafzai, 16, is an advocate for equal access to education. Her 2009 diary for the BBC detailed her frustrations with the Taliban’s edict to shut down all girls’ schools in her native Pakistan. In 2012 she was shot and severely wounded in an attack claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.
Malala will be presented with the Award by Bono accompanied by Azar Nafisi, author of ‘Reading Lolita in Tehran’.
On receiving the accolade Malala Yousafzai said:
“I am truly honoured to receive this award and would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that there are many millions of children like me across the world who fight every single day for their right to go to school. I hope that by working together we will one day realise our dream of education for every child, in every corner of the world.”
Harry Belafonte has dedicated his life to humanitarian causes, spanning the civil rights movement to the plight of children caught in Syria’s armed conflict. An Emmy- and Tony-Award winning musician and entertainer, Harry Belafonte has in innumerable ways acted on what he describes as the “obligation to do more than just entertain”.
Harry Belafonte commented:
“Since its birth, I have been devoted to the principles for which Amnesty International stands. It is an honour to receive the recognition being bestowed. Amnesty International’s stand on any universal abuse to human rights has been courageous and is our moral compass.
“I am especially honoured to receive the Ambassador of Conscience Award because I am having the distinction of sharing this with Malala Yousafzai, a true hero of our time. My admiration for her is unending. She has awakened many in the global family to a commitment in struggle against tyranny. For all this I remain eternally grateful.”
Roger Waters will make the presentation to Harry Belafonte accompanied by a special guest.
The Ambassador of Conscience Award was inspired by the poem From the Republic of Conscience, written for Amnesty International by the late Seamus Heaney. The Irish poet had been due to read the poem at the Award Ceremony.
The ceremony will pay tribute to the Nobel Laureate, including a reading of the poem that has inspired a generation of human rights activists.
The evening will be hosted by BBC correspondent Orla Guerin and will feature music performances from tenor Joseph Calleja, Grammy award-winning artist Esperanza Spalding and Music Generation.
The 2013 honourees join the other exceptional individuals who have been recognized as Ambassadors of Conscience since the award was established: VaclavHavel (2003); Mary Robinson and Hilda Morales Trujillo (2004); U2 and Paul McGuinness (2005); Nelson Mandela (2006); Peter Gabriel (2008); and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (awarded 2009, presented 2012).
Notes to editors
Images and news access footage of the Award Ceremony will be available on the evening.
For further information including on how to access footage and images, and accreditation for the Awards Ceremony please contact:
Niamh O’Keeffe Sarah Kilduff
[email protected][email protected]
+ 353 87 9703752
For further information on the awards including past recipients please click here
Please note that Malala Yousafzai will not be available for any interviews at this time. All media queries in relation to Malala should be directed to Edelman:
+44 20 3047 2585
About Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a global Movement of more than 3 million supporters, members and activists, in more than 150 countries and territories, who campaign to end grave abuses of human rights. Our vision is for every person to enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. We are independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion and are funded mainly by our membership and public donations. Amnesty International unites people to take a stand against injustice. Through public pressure and international solidarity we research, educate campaign and inspire people towards long-term solutions to human rights issues. For more information, visit https://www.amnesty.org/.
Art for Amnesty
The Ambassador of Conscience Award is organized by Art for Amnesty. For more information on Art for Amnesty visit:
www.amnesty.org/artswww.facebook.com/artforamnesty www.twitter.com/art4amnesty