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UNESCO Being children of the world: a young Pakistani receives the prize for human rights

New York, November 16, 2010

The Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Irina Bokova, awarded to the young Pakistani Asma Jahangir the Prize 2010 UNESCO / Bilbao for the promotion of human rights culture.

The biennial award the UNESCO / Bilbao to promote a culture of human rights was established in 2008, thanks to the city of Bilbao. The prize recognizes organizations or individuals who make a significant contribution to the cause of human rights as the basis of education and research, in order also to raise awareness of human rights, the political and civil society.

Asma Jahangir has been selected by an international jury for his outstanding and courageous contribution to the construction of a universal culture of human rights. The news of the award came on Nov. 16 and, therefore, UNESCO has taken the occasion of World Day of Tolerance to pay homage to 'commitment and contribution to intercultural dialogue, tolerance, understanding and cooperation for peace.

Asma Jahangir fights, always and firmly to assert that education can eliminate the most profound causes of intolerance and discrimination.

In her country, Asma Jahangir is President of "Association of the Bar of the Supreme Court," he founded the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, where he was general secretary and chairman, also founded the "Women's Action Forum." Illustrious supporter of the culture of peace will be presented the award the UNESCO / Bilbao for his meritorious contribution to the defense of human rights, in particular for the role and work as a lawyer representative to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in favor of the rights of religious minorities, women and children. Asma Jahangir's work over the years has assumed an international dimension: it was the UN Special Rapporteur for freedom of religion, and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitration.

The Director-General of UNESCO will present the award to 10 December 2010 on the occasion of Human Rights Day, in Bilbao (Spain) in the presence of Iñaki Azkuna, mayor of the city. At the prestigious award is accompanied by a prize consisting of a sum of money equal to $ 25,000, a diploma and a bronze trophy, designed by the artist Toshimi Ishii.

addition, the Director-General of UNESCO will present four honorary awards including NGOs, have distinguished themselves for their efforts in 'affirmation of universal human rights: the Corporación Parque por la Paz Villa Grimaldi (Chile), the Fundación Cultural de Paz (Spain), France Terre d'Asile and Fédération internationale Musique Espérance , both of them French.