Accra, April13, GNA - The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHARJ) with support from the British High Commission on Wednesday awarded four individuals at its inaugural Human Rights Defender's Awards night in Accra. The Awardees include Madam Betty Ayagibah, founder of Widows and Orphans Movement, Mrs Ethel Mac-Harrison, founder of Women in the Lord's Vineyard, an NGO, Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, founder of the Leper's Aid committee and Mr Solomon Joojo Cobbinah, a Broadcast Journalist.

The Human Rights Defender's Awards was initiated to celebrate individuals who in their own way were helping to make life a little better for others.

In addition, it was to honour individuals who have made it a duty to defend and promote fundamental human rights in their community, village, city and the country as a whole. Ms Anna Bossman, Acting Commissioner of CHARJ, said the winners of the inaugural awards for human rights defender were individuals who have impacted positively on the human development in their respective communities. "=85they are people who have quietly contributed immensely to the protection and promotion of fundamental human rights and freedom and who have exhibited passion and dedication to their various causes," she added.

She said the awards were also intended to motivate others to do likewise especially the younger ones to know that values of being public spirited and doing things to alleviate the pain and despair of fellow beings.

Ms Bossman urged government and institutions to ensure and recognise and award human rights activists and defenders in the country.

Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, commended the awardees for their immense contribution to the alleviation of human rights violations in the country. She also urged the awardees to collaborate with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in programmes and activities. Mrs Azumah-Mensah appealed to organisers of the awards scheme to make sure they identify more human rights defenders and equally honour them.

She commended the organisers for putting together the awards package and called on other corporate institutions to support in subsequent ones.

Mr Mathew Johnson, Acting British High Commissioner to Ghana, said the awards should offer Ghana the opportunity to launch a debate that encourages a culture that values the role of human rights defenders and institutionalise public recognition of valuable activities performed by human rights defenders. "Raise the level of ambition for the promotion and protection of human rights in Ghana and beyond its borders", he added. Rev Father Campbell, a representative of the awardees, expressed gratitude to the organisers and urged all and sundry to join in the campaign against human rights violation in Ghana and the world. He called on government to support various leprosy homes in the country for them to be assured of love and care. 13 April 11