The International Hrant Dink Award 2012
The 2012 International Hrant Dink Award was presented to laureates İsmail Beşikçi from Turkey and “Memorial” from Russia, on September 15, 2012, with a ceremony organized by the Hrant Dink Foundation.
Beşikçi received the award for his tireless efforts towards a social and political solution of the Kurdish Issue, refusing to be silenced despite being subjected to threats and maltreatment throughout his life. Beşikçi has continued to carry out research, write books and by sustaining his struggle he has allowed society to confront its problems, and made real transformation possible.
Alexander Cherkasov, the chairman of the Memorial Human Rights Center received the 2012 International Human Rights Award on behalf of the International “Memorial” Society. Since the 1990s when it was established, “Memorial” has been working on confronting the past. Memorial received the award for their systematic effort to form an archive of state terrorism, and to reveal human rights violations. “Memorial” appeals to society at large to confront not only past human rights violations but also ongoing infringements. They draw attention to human rights violations that take place at zones of armed conflict and provide information to the public. (Source: The Hrant Dink Foundation)
Watch the videos about two laureates
