Committee ‘Salidarnasc’ supports the nomination of Iryna Kozulina to Robert Kennedy Human Rights Award

Belarusian human rights defenders decided to nominate Iryna Kozulina to RFK Human Rights Award. Iryna Kazulin, the wife of imprisoned former presidential candidate Alyaksandr Kazulin, died on February 23 at the age of 48 after a long struggle with breast cancer. She struggled a lot for the freedom of her husband and other political prisoners in Belarus.
In September 2007, Iryna Kazulin was one of the organizers of international conference on breast cancer. She was writing a book about her struggle with the disease but did not manage to complete it. “The fact of illness is not a reason for self-isolation” she said. “I believe that life should go on and the illness is not reason to stop living. You should try to live a full life.”
By this prize the Robert Kennedy Fund awards human rights defenders who did a lot for the fight for human rights. It is awarded annually. This year Darfuri Doctor and Rights Defender to Received 2007 RFK Human Rights Award. Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah was awarded with RFK Human Rights Award for defending and treating survivors of rape and torture in Darfur.

“Iryna Kozulina dedicated her life to the fight for democracy and deserves this award” – says human rights defender Inna Kuley. The initiative was supported by several Belarusian human rights defence organizations: Human Rights Alliance, Legal Help, Belarusian Helsinki Committee, Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations, Legal Technologies Development Fund.

The purpose of the annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award is to honor those who, at great risk, stand up to oppression in their efforts to support human rights. The Award is intended to honor only individuals who are engaged in nonviolent activity. The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial has recognized the courage and sacrifice of 37 community activists, political prisoners, environmentalists, union organizers and human rights defenders in 21 countries.