Human Rights

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António Guterres at a Press Conference in Geneva - The Portuguese Secretary-General of the United Nations

Antonio Guterres - Secretary-General of the United Nations

After taking office in 2017, Guterres’ personal experience of the terrible human suffering taking place in conflict regions and refugee camps gave him a unique perspective and drive to work towards human dignity for all. He has shown tireless commitment to pushing action during the Covid-19 pandemic, regarding the climate crisis, advancing gender equality, driving sustainability, human rights, and aid efforts.

Antonio Guterres - Secretary-General of the United Nations
Black and white image of happy African American man waving on a stage with many spectators below and two cameramen filming behind him

Martin Luther King Jr.

The January 16 federal holiday marks the birthday of the Afro-American minister and activist who became one of the lead figures in the 1955 Civil Rights Movement to end racial discrimination and segregation. Inspired by his Christian faith and Gandhi's works, he always advocated non-violent activism. For his constant commitment to civil rights, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Just four years later he was assassinated. His legacy and political ideas are still alive today.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Picture of Ales Bialiarski

Ales Bialiatski

The human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in the 2020 pro-democracy protests against the Lukashenko regime, in power since 1994. In 2011, Bialiatski was arrested on charges of financing the protests and smuggling money into Belarus, as his NGO, Viasna, which was never allowed to register in Belarus, needed to keep its funds in Vilnius and Warsaw, from where money was brought to support political prisoners in Belarus.

Ales Bialiatski

Lottie Cunningham Wren

She is a human rights activist whose work as a lawyer has been dedicated to defending the rights of indigenous people and people of African descent in Nicaragua. Wren is the founder of CEJUDHCAN, an organization that provides educational programs and legal support to help people protect their natural resources.

Lottie Cunningham Wren