The Awards honour the dedication and achievement of those campaigners and lawyers who have made an exceptional contribution to protecting and promoting rights and freedoms. They are organised in association with the Law Society Gazette, with additional sponsorship from the General Council of the Bar and the Institute of Legal Executives.
There were two special awards this year:
Lifetime Achievement Award - the Hon Mrs Justice Cox QC
The award recognises her commitment to the protection of equality and human rights - in particular her achievements in securing rights for transsexual people, notably through te case of Goodwin & I v UK at the European Court of Human Rigts this year. In October 2002, Laura Cox QC became only the seventh female High Court judge.
Judges' Award - Christopher Digby-Bell
A special Judges' Award was presented to Christopher Digby-Bell, the honorary legal adviser to the Down's Syndrome Association, for his innovative and unique project teaching children with learning difficulties about the law, justice and their rights.
The winners of the 'regular' Awards are:
Richard Meeran (Leigh Day & Co)
Human Rights Lawyer of the Year 2002
For his commitment to protection of workers' rights to decent working conditions and a safe environment, through ensuring access to justice for workers injured by UK multinational corporations abroad. This year alone his work has ensured that 7,500 South African miners receive compensation for suffering sustained while working for Cape. UK multinationals can now be held to account for injuries to workers and damage to the environment in developing countries.
Monira Hussain, Inesons Solicitors
The Peter Duffy Award 2002 (Young Human Rights Lawyer of the Year)
For outstanding personal and professional commitment to helping secure basic rights for Asian women, asylum seekers and young offenders. She has done extensive community and legal work and, through lobbying in Bangladesh, has highlighted the rights of women prisoners and those prevented from joining their families in the UK. She has worked to bring about positive change in the community since she was 15 - setting up an organisation for Asian women, working as a human rights and immigration adviser and now working as a trainee solicitor.
Dr Stephen Whittle, Press for Change
The Human Rights Award 2002
For commitment and dedication to ensuring the advancement of rights for transsexual people in the UK, Europe and around the world through judicial means, most recently in the Court of Appeal Case of A & The Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police. An academic at Manchester Metropolitan University, he co-founded Press for Change in 1992.
More details on each of the winners are available - see contact details below.
The judges for the awards were:
- Jonathan Ames, Editor of the Law Society Gazette,
- David Bean QC, Chairman of The General Council of the Bar,
- Anthony Robinson, Legal Director of the Commission for Racial Equality,
- Sir Nicolas Bratza QC, European Court of Human Rights,
- Diane Burleigh, Secretary General of the Institute of Legal Executives,
- The Honourable Lady Justice Hale, Court of Appeal,
- Carolyn Kirby, President of the Law Society,
- Bob Nightingale, Law Centres Federation,
- Roger Smith, Director of JUSTICE,
- John Wadham, Director of Liberty,
- Lord Woolf QC, Lord Chief Justice
Writer and journalist Sheena McDonald hosted the awards, with Baroness Helena Kennedy QC delivering the keynote speech.
