Press Release Human Rights Award - Ambassade de France au ...

PRESS RELEASE
ESTABLISHMENT OF FRENCH-GERMAN HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
Tomorrow, Friday 9 th December 2011, on the eve of Human Rights Day, the French Minister for
Cooperation, Mr. Henri de Raincourt, and the German Ambassador to Kenya, Mrs. Margit
Hellwig-Boette, will announce the establishment of a French-German Human Rights Award. The
launch will take place at Alliance Française at 4.15pm (Loita and Monrovia Street). The French
Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Etienne de Poncins, as well as German, French and Kenyan jury
members will also attend the event.
Germany and France have for a long time been heavily engaged in the judicial enforcement of human
rights on a national and European level, especially through the European Court for Human Rights in
Strasbourg. The Embassies of both countries have therefore decided to reward an outstanding
Kenyan personality, an institution or a non-governmental organization (NGO) for his/her/its efforts to
implement and defend human rights in Kenya and to help people from the grassroots level and
marginalized communities to stand up for their rights and to enforce them.
A jury composed of the following people will deliberate and decide who will be the honoree:
- Honourable Gitobu Imanyara, Member of Parliament for Imenti Central
- Mrs. Tecla Namachanja Wanjala, Chairlady Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission
- Mrs. Mary Onyango, Deputy Chair National Commission on Integration and Cohesion
- Mr. Hassan Omar Hassan, Deputy Chair Kenya National Commission on Human Rights
- the Ambassador of the French Republic to Kenya, Mr. Etienne de Poncins
- the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Kenya, Mrs. Margit Hellwig-Bötte
- Mrs. Stéphanie Seydoux, Deputy Head of Mission in charge of human rights, French
Embassy
- Mr. Michael Hasenau, Deputy Head of Mission in charge of human rights, German
Embassy
- one French media representative
- one German media representative

The winner will have to demonstrate achievements with regard to human rights, an impeccable
record of integrity and a connection to the grassroots and community level. Furthermore, the
honouree has to be respected in all ethnic communities.
The winner of the award will be given the opportunity to travel to France and Germany for one week
(Berlin, Karlsruhe, Strasbourg and Paris) in order to visit stakeholders and institutions operating in
the field of human rights (Constitutional Courts, The European Court for Human Rights, German
Institute for Human Rights etc).
In addition, the achievements of the winner of the award and his/her life or its history will be featured
in a joint exhibition of the Goethe Institut and the Alliance Française.
For further information, please contact:
Benjamin Renard Andrea Sasse
Head of Press and Communication Head of Press & Cultural Affairs
French Embassy German Embassy
Phone +254-20-2778 140 Phone: +254-20-4262 100 (ext. 253)
E-mail: Benjamin.renard@diplomatie.gouv.fr E-mail: pr-1@nair.diplo.de
8 th December 2011