Seán MacBride Peace Prize 2018 – Helena Maleno
Prize Ceremony´s Location: Historical Museum, Barcelona, Spain, hosted by Centre d’Estudis per la Pau JM Delàs (Centre Delás)
Date: 18th of December 2018
The International Peace Bureau awards the Seán MacBride Peace Prize every year to a person, or organisation, or movement in recognition of its outstanding work for peace, disarmament, human rights.
This year the IPB Board has chosen the following three winners of the prize:
AHDR (Association For Historical Dialogue and Research) and Home for Cooperation
Helena Maleno
Douglas Roche
Helena Maleno is a human rights defender and an activist for migrants’ rights, as well as a Journalist and researcher, based in Tangier (Morocco). In 2002, Maleno founded the association “Caminando Fronteras” (Walking along borders), which is one of the main organizations at the southern European border devoted to denounce human rights violations. Caminando Fronteras provides support to sub-Saharan communities during the migration process. Maleno is widely known, also, for her public task alerting maritime authorities to the plight of vulnerable migrants in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, the Moroccan authorities, following a report from the Spanish police over allegations that Maleno had been collaborating with people traffickers, are prosecuting Helena Maleno. In addition, different groups in Morocco have harassed the activist for criticizing the government and especially state abuses against migrants and women. Consequently, her own life was in danger. As a Peace organization, we admire Helena Maleno’s efforts to save hundreds of lives in the Mediterranean Sea, and her strong commitment to defending human rights.
Pictures can be found via this link: https://www.facebook.com/Centre-Del%C3%A0s-dEstudis-per-la-Pau-363285387088180/
The flyer can be via this link: http://www.centredelas.org/images/macbride2018_cartel_eng_copia.jpg
The speeches will be added later.