ESAM wins Human Rights Award

Ms Yade with the awardees (Paris,10.12.07) ©MAEE, A.Arraou

Paris, December 10, 2007: Rama Yade, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, presented the French Republic's 2007 Human Rights Awards, “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité,” in a ceremony at the Palais des Affaires Etrangères.

Founded in 1988, the prize is awarded every year in complete independence by National Advisory Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH). In 2007, five prizewinners were recognized for their action to advance freedom of expression and for their commitment to combating human trafficking, the two themes chosen by CNCDH this year.

Ms Yade said in her presentation:

“The fight against human trafficking must also be one of our priorities. We can't accept the perpetuation of… modern forms of slavery, which reify bodies and spirits and in fact deny the human condition. (…) This is the field in which the Beninese Organisation ‘Enfants solidaires d'Afrique et du Monde’ and the Maurice Sixto Shelter in Haiti are both actively engaged. May they have our heartfelt thanks and may this prize contribute to the success of their projects.”