Minister Conor Lenihan congratulates Irish NGO Front Line on receiving King Baudouin International Development Prize

Award “recognises Front Line’s unique contribution in the fields of human rights and development” - Lenihan

Conor Lenihan, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Irish Aid and Human Rights, today congratulated Front Line, the Irish NGO dedicated to the protection of human rights defenders, on receiving the 2006-2007 King Baudouin International Development Prize, at a ceremony in Brussels. 

The Award, which was presented to Front Line by King Albert of Belgium at a ceremony at lunchtime today in the Royal Palace in Brussels, acknowledges the work of persons or organisations that have made a substantial contribution to the development of countries in the southern hemisphere. 

Minister Lenihan expressed his delight at Front Line’s achievement in winning the award.  “Winning such a prestigious international award recognises the superb work being carried out by Front Line.  It will provide Front Line with greater visibility and publicity worldwide.” 

The Minister also paid tribute to the work of Front Line’s Director Mary Lawlor and her team, and their dedication to the cause of human rights defenders:

“Since its establishment in 2001, Front Line has been tireless in its support of individual human rights defenders and in drawing international attention to their cause.  This award, from a major international organisation, is a sign of the high regard for Front Line’s work among the international community” he said.

Note for Editors

Front Line was founded in 2001 with the specific aim of working for the protection of human rights defenders at immediate risk and to provide practical means to improve their security.  It is based in Blackrock, Co. Dublin.  Its Leadership Council includes such international figures as the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Hanan Ashrawi, Bono and Wangari Maathai. 

According to Front Line, a human rights defender is “a person who works, non-violently, for any or all of the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. 

The Irish Government has provided substantial funding to Front Line since its foundation, and gave approximately €400,000 in 2006.

The King Baudouin International Development Prize (worth approximately €150,000) is awarded every second year by the King Baudouin Foundation, which was founded in 1976 to mark the 25th anniversary of King Baudouin's reign in Belgium.  Its aim is to acknowledge the work of persons or organisations, which have made a substantial contribution to the development of countries in the southern hemisphere.

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Press Office

8 May 2007