11 Dec 2009

Lawyers and campaigners were among the winners who were celebrated for their ground-breaking and courageous work at the Liberty / JUSTICE Human Rights Awards last night. The awards are held annually to recognise the outstanding contribution made by individuals and organisations to further the cause of human rights.

Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty, said:

“It was a wonderful night of celebration and solidarity around the common values of the Human Rights Act. The winners, nominees and all those gathered demonstrated the ever-broadening movement to protect rights and freedoms in modern Britain.”

Roger Smith, Director of Justice, said:

“The three winners of these awards provide inspiring examples of what human rights can do to help those who would otherwise be powerless and oppressed.”

The winners of the Human Rights Awards are as follows:

Peter Duffy Award

for individuals (campaigners, lawyers, activists, academics etc) aged 35 or under

Dan Carey

For his outstanding commitment to a number of vital human rights cases - including Al-Sweady, Evans, Al-Haq and the Baha Mousa Inquiry - which required unstinting endeavour and an incredible eye for detail.

Human Rights Award

for organisations and non-legal individuals

Gurkha Justice Campaign

For the remarkable public campaign that led to retired British Army Gurkhas being accorded due respect and protection through the provision of settlement rights, education rights and health care in the UK.

Human Rights Lawyer of the Year

for solicitors, barristers, legal executives, trainees, pupils, legal academics and judges

Dinah Rose QC

For her leading contribution towards a range of human rights cases - including that relating to the rendition and torture of Binyam Mohamed, which continues to bring to light the abuses being carried out in the name of 'the War on Terror'.


The Liberty/Justice Human Rights Awards 2009 were held on 10 December at the offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, who sponsored the event.

Liberty Press Office on 0207 378 3656 or 0797 3 831 128