Call for Nominations: 2024 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Human Rights First announced a call for nominations for the 2024 Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award. Nominations are due by September 23, 2024.

“Honoring those who champion human rights despite immense personal risk is at the heart of what we do,” said Human Rights First President and CEO Sue Hendrickson. “This award stands as a testament to the power of individuals to make a difference, even in the face of adversity.”

Named in honor of the principal founder of the American Civil Liberties Union and the International League for Human Rights, the Roger N. Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award was established in 1989 and is presented in alternating years by Human Rights First to international human rights advocates and by the ACLU to advocates in the United States. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the first Baldwin Award.

Previous winners of the Baldwin Medal of Liberty include Angelo Karlo-Guillen, a prominent human rights defender and a leader in the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (Philippines, 2022); human rights lawyer Albert Ho, whose work has included representing pro-democracy protestors challenging crackdowns by the Hong Kong government and advocating for human rights lawyers in mainland China (Hong Kong, 2020); the Mwatana Organization for Human Rights, an independent Yemeni group that investigates human rights violations by all parties to the country’s conflict and provides legal support to victims (Yemen, 2018); and anti-slavery activist Janvier Murairi Bakihanaye, whose work has helped rural Congolese communities assert their legal rights and promoted due diligence guidelines in the mining industry (Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2016).

A distinguished jury will select this year’s winner, who will receive a $30,000 prize and a trip to the United States to engage in advocacy. Where applicable, the prize may be subject to U.S. tax withholding.

Individuals or organizations can submit nominations. Nominees will be judged based on the following criteria:

• The nominee’s work is unique or particularly distinctive.
• The nominee’s work has been effective in advancing human rights in a country other than the United States.
• The nominee faces risk or insecurity as a result of their work.
• The nominee would benefit significantly from receiving the Baldwin Award in the form of enhanced protection or in any other way.

The nomination form can be found [here]. More about the award and a full list of past winners can be accessed [here].

For any questions about the award or the nomination process, please contact Human Rights First at [email protected].