Colombia: Pris til PBI

Peace Brigades International (PBI) har fått Martin Ennals menneskerettighetspris for 2001 for sitt arbeid i Colombia. PBI beskytter menneskerettighetsforkjempere som er truet gjennom at internasjonale frivillige ledsager dem i deres arbeid for menneskerettighetene i Colombia.

Den årlige prisen, som er oppkalt etter Amnesty Internationals første generalsekretær, ble utdelt av den pakistanske advokaten Hina Jilani som er FNs spesialrepresentant for menneskerettighetsforkjempere.

Dette har Amnestys etterforsker Susan Lee sagt om PBI:

"....Between 1988 and 1989 eight human rights defenders were assassinated and one was disappeared. Human rights organisations demanded that they receive protection from the State but their demands were not met. I remember at the time human rights defenders would say to me: your visits and your solidarity are all very well but what we need is ....the presence of Peace Brigades International. ...As long as there continues to be no serious (state) policy to face up to the causes (of violations of human rights) and to search out and confront those responsible, ...it will be necessary for PBI to continue to expand their project in Colombia..."