Walking Toward Justice Awards to recognize human rights defenders in the context of migration

Conectando Caminos por los Derechos (the Venezuelan Migrant Human Rights Activity), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the Walking Toward Justice Awards, an initiative  that  seeks to give public recognition to the work of people dedicated to strengthening access to justice as a human right in the context of migration. Through five categories, visibility will be given to individuals, organizations or mechanisms that promote the right of migrants to access justice in Colombia. The winners will be announced at an event on September 9.

This initiative aims to reduce the lack of knowledge and feeling of distrust of Venezuelan migrants, who are often afraid to denounce the acts of violence they have suffered after their arrival in Colombia.

The Venezuelan Migrant Human Rights Activity, in partnership with the League Against Silence, the International Institute on Race, Equality, and Human Rights and the Center for Migration Studies of the Faculty of Law of the University of the Andes launched the Walking Toward Justice Awards to contribute to the construction of the historical memory on the work carried out by the various leaders, human rights defenders, civil society organizations and public officials as a response to the abuses against the migrant population in Colombia.

The categories that will be awarded are: 

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The work of those leaders who advise, accompany or represent the interests of migrant victims of human rights violations in their struggles to access justice.

HONORABLE MENTION TO AN INSTITUTIONAL INITIATIVE
To make visible actions of officials who, from their respective institutions, promote access to justice, protection and the restoration of the rights of the migrant population.

HONORABLE MENTION FOR THE BEST SENTENCE
For judicial decisions that, under the highest national and international norms and standards, have been issued in response to human rights violations in the context of migration. 

AWARD FOR THE BEST INFORMATIVE PIECE
Articles, reports, news pieces or journalistic notes that denounce patterns of human rights violations and barriers to access to justice in the context of migration.

AWARD FOR THE BEST ACADEMIC PUBLICATION
Highlighting reports, articles or publications that, through the rigor of scientific and academic research, analyze the challenges and barriers to access to justice faced by the migrant population. 

To learn more, visit (in Spanish) https://pactcolombia.org/premios-caminando-hacia-la-justicia/

Conectando Caminos por los Derechos (CCD) is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Human Rights Support Mechanism (HRSM) and implemented by a consortium led by Pact and including the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), Freedom House, and Internews. The program supports Colombia’s efforts to prevent and respond to human rights violations, particularly among Venezuelan migrants, Colombian returnees and receptor communities, with the aim of increasing community cohesion and citizen security.