AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
PRESS RELEASE
Monday 06 May 2013

Amnesty International honours Marilyn Waring - 2013 Human Rights Defender

Marilyn Waring has been announced as the recipient of Amnesty International New Zealand’s 2013 Human Rights Defender Award.

In a ceremony at the University of Auckland Law School on Saturday evening, the award was presented to Marilyn in recognition of a life dedicated to the promotion and protection of people’s human rights here in New Zealand and around the world.

“When judging the Award, what stood out about Marilyn was her tireless work for human rights, not just in the past and present, but also for the future. Marilyn has long been known for her work to develop young leaders in many fields.” said Grant Bayldon, Executive Director at Amnesty International.

“Marilyn is truly inspirational New Zealander, and it is Amnesty International’s pleasure to honour her as a true expression of what it means to be a Human Rights Defender.”

"Amnesty was a very early initiation in my activism, and I remember going to meetings as a young student in the back room of the church I attended in Wellington”, said Marilyn.

“I feel that I was born on the right side of the tracks and it’s my job to work for other people to have access to dignity and equality.

I know scores of wonderful people who exert huge energy in the field of human rights, and to be numbered with them through receiving this award is very special.”

Marilyn Waring’s journey has been an eventful one as she has been at the forefront of speaking up on numerous issues, such as women’s rights in New Zealand and overseas, a nuclear free New Zealand and third gender people.

Amnesty commended Marilyn for being an early advocate for same sex marriage, her work to end violence against women and as an activist for the rights of the unpaid and ‘invisible’ workers.

“The high calibre and diverse range of nominations received this year is testament to the recognition that the defence of human rights in our part of the world is as crucial as it is to the rest of the world,” said Grant Bayldon.

Background
The shortlist for the 2013 Human Rights Defender Award included Fiji women’s advocate, ROSHIKA DEO, Tamil human rights advocate, MR A THEVA RAJAN, Former Minister of Immigration and refugee advocate, HON A G AUSSIE MALCOLM, inaugural President of the Refugee Council of New Zealand, DR NAGALINGAM RASALINGAM, and founding member of the Child Poverty Action Group, SUSAN ST JOHN.

ENDS

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