Courageous Activists from Syria, Venezuela, Iran and the North Caucasus to be honored at Closing of World Movement for Democracy Sixth Assembly in Jakarta

MEDIA ADVISORY
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Contact: Jane Riley Jacobsen, jane@ned.org 

On Wednesday, 14 April, the World Movement for Democracy will conclude its Sixth Assembly with the presentation of Democracy Courage Tributes at the John B. Hurford Memorial Dinner. The courage tributes are designed to focus attention on the efforts of democracy and human rights activists who have shown exceptional courage while working in some of the world’s most difficult circumstances. 

By honoring their brave work, the World Movement for Democracy hopes to raise the profile of these causes, shining an international spotlight on their important work and showing solidarity to those who so often work in isolation.

 The 2010 Honorees are:

• The Movement for Human Rights in Syria
• The Student Movement of Venezuela
• The Women’s Movement of Iran
• The Human Rights Defenders of the North Caucasus

“The Democracy Courage Tributes are a fitting conclusion to our conference, whose theme is Building Solidarity Across Cultures: Working Together for Democracy,” said Kim Campbell, Chair of the Steering Committee of the World Movement and former Prime Minister of Canada. “One of the chief purposes of the World Movement is to build global networks of support for activists in danger. The Courage Tributes are a powerful demonstration of that support.”

Another act of solidarity will come when the Participants at the Sixth Assembly present a book of condolences to the Ambassador of Poland to Indonesia at the closing ceremony. Poland’s democratic transition has long served as an example and inspiration to democrats the world over.   Several delegates knew individuals who perished in the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Poland’s president and scores of other government officials.

The closing dinner is named in honor of John B. Hurford was an internationalist and philanthropist who played an important role in helping to conceptualize and bring into being the World Movement for Democracy. The Hurford foundation also sponsored a youth democracy essay contest, bringing the finalists to the Sixth Assembly. The winners of the contest will be announced by Robert Miller, a trustee of the Hurford Foundation, at the closing dinner.

For more information about the World Movement for Democracy, visit www.wmd.org.

WHAT: Closing Ceremony of World Movement for Democracy Sixth Assembly and Presentation of Democracy Courage Tributes

WHEN: Wednesday, 14 April, 2010, 18:45 - 23:30

WHERE: Ballroom, Hotel Shangri-la Jakarta

LOCAL CONTACT: Tursiana Setyohapsari, Golin Harris International +62 81 819 1490