News item | 12-12-2024 | 19:13
This year the Human Rights Tulip has been awarded to Community Peacemaker Teams in the Kurdish Autonomous Region in Iraq. Minister Veldkamp of Foreign Affairs presented the prize on December 12 in the Peace Palace.
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The Human Rights Tulip
The Human Rights Tulip is awarded annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support human rights defenders in the work they do: highlighting, protecting and improving human rights in the world. The winner of the Human Rights Tulip receives a tulip-shaped bronze statue and a cash prize of € 100,000, with which the winner can continue and possibly expand human rights work.
The work of Community Peacemaker Teams in the Kurdish Autonomous Region in Iraq
Community Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi Kurdistan (CPT-IK) supports people in conflict areas and works with local communities affected by violence, injustice or oppression. The human rights organization speaks out about military actions in the Kurdish Autonomous Region and is committed to non-violent ways to resolve conflicts and build peace. The basis for CPT-IK’s work is reliable data. According to the organization, this is the basis for an honest dialogue on sensitive topics.
Although CPT-IK consists of a team of three people, they have been able to document and verify a large number of human rights violations – also thanks to a large network of reliable partners.
Kamaran Othman (CPT): “How do you collect so much information with only 3 people? The answer is simple: ‘We drink a lot of tea with people.’ This helps us gather information, raise the voices of those who are not being heard, and gain support for our work.”
Community Peacemaker Teams stands up for those affected by military violence in the Kurdish Autonomous Region. By supporting displaced families, reporting damage caused by military attacks and working to compensate and protect civilian victims. CPT-IK also supports journalists and activists who work for a better life in non-violent ways.
The prize money will enable the human rights organization to further expand its commitment to peace, security and justice in the Kurdish Autonomous Region in Iraq.
Kamaran Othman (CPT): “This award is not only intended to recognize the work of Community Peacemaker Teams – Iraqi Kurdistan, but also to recognize the people who, despite suffering under extraordinary and painful circumstances, continue to resist non-violently in their home: Iraqi Kurdistan.”
Other nominees
This year, four other candidates were nominated for the Human Rights Tulip: Wilker Dias (human rights defender in Mozambique), Stella Maris Martínez (public prosecutor in Argentina), Vasile Micleusanu (LGBTIQ+ human rights defender from Moldova) and Blert Morina (activist for LGBTIQ+ people in Kosovo). .
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