11:25, 3 May 2004

Russia's Memorial wins Nansen Refugee Award

The Nansen Refugee Award is annually conferred on an individual or organization known for exceptional achievements in favor of refugees. "Today, Memorial Human Rights Center's network of some 150 dedicated staff work in more than 45 regions across the Russian Federation," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Ruud Lubbers said. "Last year, it provided legal counseling to more than 21,300 people, including forced migrants, internally displaced people and asylum seekers. Many were from non-CIS countries."

The Nansen Refugee Award, named after Fridtjof Nansen, a well-known Norwegian polar explorer and the world's first international refugee official, was established in 1954. Previous recipients include Eleanor Roosevelt, King Juan Carlos I of Spain, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, Medecins Sans Frontieres, the people of Canada and Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti. The award includes $100,000 for a refugee project of the recipient's choice and will be formally presented to the Memorial Human Rights Center in Barcelona on June 20, World Refugee Day.

Source: Memorial Human Rights Center (Moscow, Russia)