Washington, D.C. (USA) 07 December 2019 (SPS)- Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation congratulated Mrs. Aminatou Haidar, on receiving last December 4th the prestigious 2019 Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Peize) in Stockholm, Sweden in an international celebration attended by more than 1200 human rights defenders, NGOs and politicians from all over the world.
In a statement published on its website, R.F Kennedy Foundation recalled that the Award was granted to Aminatou “in recognition of her tireless, nonviolent action for justice and self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.”
Haidar shared this award with Chinese lawyer Guo Jianmei, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, and Brazilian indigenous leader Davi Kopenawa and the Hutukara Yanomami Association.
“Despite having faced torture, arbitrary detention, and continued attacks and threats against her, Haidar has remained committed to peaceful activism to courageously fight for the freedom of speech, association, and self-determination of all Western Saharans,” the statement reads.
For this reason, the text recalls, “Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights also honored Aminatou with its 2008 Human Rights Award, which recognizes those who stand up to oppression at grave personal risk to non-violently pursue human rights.”
Finally Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights “praises Aminatou Haidar for her lifelong dedication to the realization of human rights in Western Sahara, and calls on Morocco to ensure all Sahrawis can freely and safely exercise these rights without fear of harassment, threats, or reprisals.” (SPS)