Press Release
More than six decades since the Amnesty International’s candle lit the way to a new era of human rights revolution, the world is now at a crossroad despite the brave call for change from people all over the world, governments continue to repress and stifle freedom of expression, Amnesty International Philippines said in a statement today when it opened the nominations for lgnite Awards for Human Rights Season 3
“Today, we celebrate 61 years of Amnesty International, fighting against injustice and pushing back against repressive regimes. The world stands on the threshold of change but one that keeps on slipping further away from the human rights future we all aspire,” said Butch Olano, Amnesty International Philippines Section Director.
For the human rights defenders whose contributions to the advancement of human rights in the Philippines have resulted to immensely improved lives of so many, Amnesty International Philippines officially opens the nomination for Ignite Awards for
Butch Olano, Section Director
Human Rights Season 3.
Ignite Awards for Human Rights, first launched in 2017, was a response to the unprecedented rise of the politics of demonization in the Philippines. As human rights faced exceptional strain when the government threatened with contempt hard won human rights, Amnesty took this as a challenge to provide support and much needed recognition to individuals whose life work focused on speaking truth to power and ensures changes in policy and accountability bring about impact to ordinary peoples’ lives. Ignite Awards for Human Rights, first of its kind in the country, is Amnesty’s way to give back to the selfless human rights defenders who are exerting unyielding efforts so that everyone can enjoy all human rights for all.
“So for the human rights defenders whose contributions to the advancement of human rights in the Philippines have resulted to immensely improved lives of so many, Amnesty International Philippines officially opens the nomination for Ignite Awards for Human Rights Season 3. Our theme for this season is freedom of expression and association. We recognize how HRDs have stepped up especially amid the pandemic and have played different roles in our communities to protect our freedom of expression, our access to health care and our ability to protest peacefully, while they face threats and intimidation from the government and corporations, or sometimes risking imprisonment,” Olano explained.
Ignite Awards for Human Rights has four categories – the Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender given to individuals and organizations, Outstanding Young Human Rights Defender and Art That Matters, which will be focused on music as an advocacy platform for Season 3. The nominations will last until the end of November 2022, and the Board of Judges shall begin their process of ‘blind judging’ soon after. The recipients will be awarded on 28 May 2023, Amnesty International anniversary. One year after the nominations are opened.
We recognize how HRDs have stepped up especially amid the pandemic and have played different roles in our communities to protect our freedom of expression, our access to health care and our ability to protest peacefully, while they face threats and intimidation from the government and corporations, or sometimes risking imprisonment.
“We welcome you to help us seek out human rights defenders who work to promote and enhance human rights by taking injustice personally and use their privilege to stand up for people who will otherwise be marginalized or oppressed. We are looking for committed activists, musicians, artists or ordinary people doing extraordinary work for human rights who are inspiring others to join them us in defending the human rights of people all over the world.” Concluded Olano.
