Honoring Those that Fight for Human Rights

Yesterday Citizens for Global Solutions joined human rights advocates from all over D.C. and the world for the 2011 Annual Human Rights Luncheon hosted by the United Nations Association of the National Capitol Area.  Held in the beautiful Cannon House Caucus Room, the event was an inspiring reminder of what true dedication to a cause can produce - just in time for International Human Rights day this Saturday!

The luncheon was in honor of many long-time human rights advocates.  The event paid tribute to Richard Griffs, an extremely active UNA-NCA member and the Chair of the Human Rights Committee, who sadly passed away earlier this week.  He was the "force behind the Annual Human Rights Luncheon," and it was clear that he will be sorely missed both at the UNA-NCA and in the field of human rights. 

Thomas Buergenthal, former Judge at both the International Court of Justice in The Hague and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights as well as Professor of Law at George Washington University School of Law, was honored for receiving the Louis B. Sohn Human Rights Award.  He spoke of his personal experiences and relationship with Louis B. Sohn which was what made this day so special to him.  Thomas met Louis in 1960 at Harvard Law School where he was working on his LL.M. degree, and "thus began a student-teacher relationship and friendship that lasted until his {Louis's} death in 2004."

Zainab Salbi, Founder of Women for Women International, was also honored with the Perdita Huston Human Rights Award.  She spoke of what an exciting time this is in human rights, especially for women. She recognized the three women who were recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia (the first woman to be elected president in modern Africa), the peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, a pro-democracy campaigner.  But she was clear in her mission that there need to be more women present in peace negotiations and decision-making.  She also spoke of the value of listening to people who actually live in conflict-torn places.  "Our degrees can't give us solutions," she said.  They can give us historical perspective, but it is people who live "in the context," of what is happening who will create workable solutions.

There were also a number of Community Human Rights Awards given to individuals nominated by various organizations.  Citizens for Global Solutions was proud to recognize long-time friend and human rights activist Annette Lantos for her decades of work along with her late husband Congressmen Tom Lantos, with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Comission, the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, and so much more. 

All in all it was an incredibly meaningful afternoon.  Having so many determined leaders in one room makes it impossible to not be hopeful for more human rights advances in the future.   As I celebrate this Saturday I know I will take inspiration from the experience, and the amazing work of so many individuals and organizations. I hope you do too! Thanks to the UNA-NCA for a great day.