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AI names De Lima as Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender
FILE: De Lima outdid other nominees for the individual category which included Senator Risa Hontiveros, Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan, and Leni Velasco. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)
Amnesty International (AI) Philippines, a group advocating for human rights, recognized detained Senator Leila De Lima as the “Most Distinguished Human Rights Defender” on its first-ever Ignite Awards for Human Rights on May 28, Monday.
De Lima outdid other nominees for the individual category which included Senator Risa Hontiveros, Nymia Pimentel-Simbulan, and Leni Velasco.
The detained Senator said that she is “deeply humbled” for being chosen.
“It is with great honor to receive this latest accolade as recognition for my unwavering stance on human rights despite my continued unjust detention and political persecution,” De Lima said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Our shared goals and cooperation only proved that no tyrant can stop us. No matter how influential and powerful those who violate our dignity and human rights are, our strong will and determination will always prevail; truth and justice and will always succeed,” she added.
Though the Senator, one of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s staunch critics is currently imprisoned in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame, she continues to receive various awards and recognition.
Her latest award is not her first from AI as the organization included her in its list of “Human Rights Defenders Under Threat.”
Time Magazine listed her as one of its 100 Most Influential People and Foreign Policy. A United States (US)-based publication also included De Lima in its list of Leading Global Leaders consecutively for years 2016 and 2017.
Fortune Magazine in April 2017 ranked her as the 39th out of 50 of the World’s Greatest Leaders.
(Read: De Lima makes it to Fortune’s World’s 50 Greatest Leaders)
De Lima is a former secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).
Her arrest came after being accused of allegedly protecting drug dealers inside the New Bilibid Prison when she was still the Justice Secretary.
