Sponsored by the Faculty of Advocates
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To mark the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, the Faculty of Advocates launches an award to recognise the achievements of human rights lawyers and defenders who work upholding human rights and the rule of law around the world.
As the 1998 Declaration on Human Rights Defenders makes clear, the defence of human rights and the rule law transcends borders and places a right and responsibility on individuals, groups and associations, as well as states, to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms at both a national and international level.
The Declaration further recognises the need to support and protect human rights lawyers and defenders when carrying out their work.
With these principles in mind, the Faculty of Advocates seeks to recognise and support human rights lawyers and defenders around the world by inviting applications for the inaugural Scottish Bar International Human Rights Award 2018.
The Scottish Bar International Human Rights Award
The award consists of:
- Return flights, accommodation and visa expenses to travel to Edinburgh, Scotland in November 2018;
- Meetings with Scottish groups and organisations with an interest in human rights to discuss and raise awareness of the award winner’s work in promoting human rights and the rule of law in their own country, and to help build strategic alliances;
- Advocacy training programme provided by the Faculty of Advocates tailored to the needs of the award winner;
- Attendance at the award ceremony to be held at the Faculty of Advocates on Thursday 29 November 2018.
The criteria and the application
- The applicant must be an individual lawyer or human rights defender based outside the UK or the Republic of Ireland and not a national of those countries
- All activities of the applicant and their organisation must be peaceful and in accordance with the law.
- The award is apolitical and work relating to political parties or political movements cannot be considered.
- The applicant must demonstrate a proven commitment to upholding the rule of law and human rights. Applicants should provide specific examples of how they have worked to uphold human rights and the rule of law, and the wider impact their work has had on the community or their country over the last two years.
- The applicant should include examples of challenges faced in the course of their work upholding human rights and the rule of law.
- The applicant must provide contact details for 2 referees, one of which must be an international organisation or partner.
- The applicant must be able to complete or have assistance to carry out any visa requirements in October 2018.
- The applicant must be able to travel to Edinburgh and attend the award ceremony, meetings and advocacy training in late November 2018.
Application process
- Complete and send the application below in English by Friday 31 August 2018.
- The Selection Committee will select the winner and referees will be contacted.
- The winner will be contacted by early October 2018.
- The award will be formally presented at an award ceremony to be held in Edinburgh on Thursday 29th November 2018.
The Selection Committee:
The Selection Committee for the Scottish Bar International Human Rights Award will be chaired by The Right Honourable Lord Bonomy, a retired and eminent senior Scottish judge and former judge of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The selection committee will include Gordon Jackson QC, the Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, Shelagh McCall QC, the Convenor of the Faculty’s Human Rights and Rule of Law Committee, and Professor Alan Miller, Special Envoy to the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions.
About the Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is the professional body for Advocates, who are qualified to appear in Scotland’s highest Courts. Advocates are specially trained lawyers who are independent (self-employed) and objective. The Faculty of Advocates, as an independent referral Bar, ensures that the people of Scotland, regardless of wealth, background or location, have access to the very best independent, objective legal advice. The Faculty has been at the forefront of promoting justice and legal excellence in Scotland since 1532 and is committed to upholding and promoting respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Further information about the Faculty of Advocates is available at: http://www.advocates.org.uk/