Human rights Human RightsCouncil of Europe North-South PrizeThe North-South Prize has been awarded every year since 1995 to two candidates : a candidate from the North and one from the South (preferably to a man and a woman). Candidates should be recognised within the following fields of action: human rights protection, defence of pluralist democracy, promotion of public awareness about issues concerning global solidarity and interdependence, and reinforcement of the North-South partnership. Two women’s rights activists win Council of Europe’s “North-South Prize”Monika Hauser, founder of medica mondiale – an NGO which assists women and girls in war and crisis zones throughout the world – and Asma Jilani Jahangir, Pakistani lawyer and human rights activist, have been awarded the “North-South Prize” from the Council of Europe for 2012. The Council of Europe has awarded this prize every year since 1995 to two candidates who have stood out for their exceptional commitment to promoting human rights, intercultural exchange and North-South solidarity. Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva presented the awards in the Senate Room of the Portuguese Parliamentary Assembly in Lisbon. Paying tribute to the “courage and exemplary endeavours of two distinguished laureates”, Ms Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, stressed that both prize winners “risked their lives to improve the condition of women, irrespective of ethnic or religious origin.” She called upon states around the world to sign and ratify the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. “Stopping violence against women is an urgent requirement of human rights protection”. (more...) North-South Prize 2011 awarded to Boris Tadić and Souhayr Belhassen
Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Maud De Boer-Buquicchio participated in the event, together with Parliamentary Assembly President Jean-Claude Mignon; President of the Portuguese Parliament Assunção Esteves; Chair of the Executive Committee of the North-South Centre Deborah Bergamini; and President of the Portuguese Parliamentary Delegation to PACE João Bosco Mota Amaral. (more...) 2010 North-South Prize: Prize Ceremony on 29 March 2011
The award recognises their work in promoting global solidarity and interdependence through a respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law. (more...)
| Interview with Souhayr Belhassen
Human rights activist Souhayr Belhassen is the joint winner of the 2011 North-South Prize for her work in the struggle for women's rights in the developing world. The Tunisian, who is President of the International Federation of Human Rights, is also considered a symbol for the historical changes in the Arab world in 2011, setting an example for gender equality and fairness in the region. |
Boris Tadić (President of the Republic of Serbia) and Souhayr Belhassen (President of the International Federation of Human Rights), are the two 
Former President of Brazil