The American Bar Association’s International Human Rights Award was established to honor and give public recognition to an individual or organization that has made an exceptional contribution to the advancement of human rights outside of the United States. Given on behalf of the Association’s Center for Human Rights, Section of International Law, Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice, Section of Litigation, and Rule of Initiative, the 2017 award will be presented at the ABA Annual Meeting in New York City.

Award Criteria

A. Nominees.

A nominee shall be a lawyer, human rights luminary, or international human rights entity, from any jurisdiction outside the United States or working primarily outside the United States. Nominees not selected for the award may be nominated again in subsequent years. Awardees may not receive the award more than once.

B. Criteria.

Nominees for the award must have made substantial and long-term contributions in furtherance of civil rights, civil liberties, and/or human rights outside the United States. A “substantial” contribution shall be considered to be one demonstrating a level of dedication or achievement beyond that expected in the normal course of an individual’s work. Factors to be considered include:

• Performing sustained, exceptional, and direct representation of, or advocacy for, persons outside of the United States whose human rights have been violated; and/or
• Creating or sustaining expanded access to a legal system for persons outside the United States whose human rights may be or have been violated; and/or
• Performing direct representation in one or more cases that resulted in significant benefits to persons or groups outside the United States whose human rights are or were on the verge of being violated.

Nomination Package

• Nomination form (download);
• Award criteria narrative;
• Resume or CV;
• Biography; and
• Letters of support

The nomination form and accompanying materials must be sent electronically on or before Friday, February 24, 2017 to michael.pates@americanbar.org. The nomination package should be sent to: introl@americanbar.org. Questions on the application process can also be directed to: introl@americanbar.org.