Friends of Front Line - 6.13.08

Friends of Front Line USA, the American branch of the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, was joined by actor and campaigner Mr. Martin Sheen and former Taoiseach of Ireland, Mr. Bertie Ahern TD, for a special luncheon with 200 guests held at the United Nations in New York.

The event is to celebrate the awarding of the 2008 Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at Risk to Anwar al-Bunni of Syria. Mr. al-Bunni was selected to receive the Front Line Award by a jury of members of the Irish and European Parliaments from a short list of five nominees from China, Brazil, Honduras and Indonesia as well as Syria. Anwar al-Bunni has worked for human rights in Syria for more than 20 years and is currently serving a five year prison sentence in a prison where he has been regularly ill-treated.

The event was a huge success, ensuring that Friends of Frontline USA has raised more than 200,000 since its inception in January. Mr. Sheen and Mr. Ahern both spoke passionately about their dedication to protecting the lives of Human Rights Defenders and the need to take action against these injustices. “The Front Line Award is about courage.

The courage of human rights defenders who find within themselves the strength to challenge injustice, to confront those who use their power to oppress others, and to speak out for those who have no voice” said Brian Jacobs, Chairman of Friends of Front Line USA. The Front Line Award lunch is one of a series of events being organized by Front Line to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Photos
1. Bertie Ahern Addresses the Crowd
2. Kieran McLoughlin, Brian Jacobs, Martin Sheen
3. Mary Lawlor, Martin Sheen, Brian Jacobs, Bertie Ahern, Tom Ryan
4. Radwan Ziadeh, Brian Jacobs, Martin Sheen, Bertie Ahern
5. Brian Jacobs & his wife
6. Martin Sheen and Tom Ryan

Info
Caitlin McCormick
T - 212-689-3100
E - cmccormick@irlfunds.org