By Verghese V Joseph –
Switzerland-based Martin Ennals Foundation announced on Wednesday that a special, posthumous homage will be made to late Father Stanislas Swamy during the 2022 Martin Ennals Award Ceremony, on June 2 at 9.30 pm IST.
Father Stan (1937-2021), as he was better known, was a Jesuit priest and activist who founded several organizations to promote human rights in Jharkhand state, India. He dedicated much of his work to advance the rights of Adivasi communities – indigenous tribes of India who are known as forest dwellers and protectors of the environment. He advocated for empowering the Adivasi communities to claim the rights to their land and legitimize their cultural heritage and knowledge.
“Father Stan was nominated to the Award in spring 2021, but he sadly passed away before it could reach him,” says Chair of the Award Jury, Hans Thoolen. “The Jury wished to shine a light on Father Stan’s many contributions to human rights, which cannot be eclipsed by his unjust incarceration by Indian authorities.”
The Award is managed by the Martin Ennals Foundation, based in Geneva (Switzerland). There are currently over 60 defenders associated with the Martin Ennals Award in 34 countries. Martin Ennals was a British human rights activist who served as Secretary-General of Amnesty International from 1968 to 1980. He co-founded the human rights organizations ARTICLE 19, International Alerts and HURIDOCS.
The Martin Ennals Award is never given posthumously but this is a very special case since the application for the ward was made while he was alive in judicial custody and hence decided to honour him.
Father Stan was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on October 8, 2020, for his alleged links to the Bhima Koregaon violence, which he vehemently denied. At the age of 83 and suffering from Parkinson’s disease, Father Stan had difficulty eating and drinking in prison. Repeated requests for his release to medical care were denied by the Mumbai High Court. He spent 9 months in jail until May 29, 2021, when his condition became critical and he was finally transferred to a hospital. Father Swamy passed away on July 5 at the age of 84.
Reacting to the development, Henri Tiphagne, National Working Secretary, Human Rights Defenders’ Alert – India said, “It is with utmost pleasure I am informing you that human rights defender Fr Stan Swamy will be honoured at the 2022 Martin Ennals Award Ceremony on June 2, 2022. Certainly, this is an acknowledgment of the work and legacy that Fr Stan Swamy has left behind for all of us to carry on.”
The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders honours individuals and organizations that have shown exceptional commitment to defending and promoting human rights, despite the risks involved. It strives to provide them with much-needed protection, raising their public profile and gathering international support for their work.
The Martin Ennals Foundation and Jury has invited the broader public to join them at 9.30 pm on June 2nd at 18h CET (and online) for a celebration of Father Stan’s legacy.
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟐 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢n𝐄𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐫. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐦𝐲 (𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟕 – 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏)
HRDA requests everyone to register here – https://bit.ly/3NChiiQ
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 – will be going live from 09:30 pm (IST) on 02nd June 2022.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=5220682357974759
https://www.facebook.com/hrdefendersalert
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2G8_POFpPQ