Jacques Ribs Prize for Human Rights 2024 ceremony

The René Cassin Foundation – International Institute of Human Rights organized the first Jacques Ribs Prize for Human Rights, made possible thanks to the generosity of Mr. Jacques Ribs, on Friday December 13, 2024 at the Villa Quai Sturm in Strasbourg.

The prize is awarded in memory of Jacques Ribs, former director of the France Terre d’Asile association, who devoted his life to defending rights and freedoms. To honor the memory of this eminent defender of rights, Sébastien Touzé, Director of the same foundation, supported by the Foundation’s team, proceeded, over several months, to select major personalities working for human rights throughout the world, in order to submit them to the jury of the Prize.

The jury, chaired by Emmanuel Decaux, President of the René Cassin Foundation, and including Vincent Berger, former jurisconsult of the European Court of Human Rights, Jean-Marie Delarue, former Contrôleur général des lieux de privation de liberté, Martine Denis-Linton, former President of the Cour nationale du droit d’asile, Nicole Questiaux, former Minister of National Solidarity, and Pinar Selek, teacher-researcher, met several times to deliberate.

The first edition of the Prix Jacques Ribs honored two winners with exceptional careers. Ms Şebnem Korur Fincancı, human rights defender, was honored for her more than 30 years of commitment, during which she has put her expertise in forensic medicine at the service of the defense of human rights. Her work has focused in particular on combating inhumane treatment and the use of chemical weapons, with a view to promoting justice. The Prison Insider association, meanwhile, was rewarded for its remarkable actions. Founded in 2015 by Mr. Bernard Bolzer and headed by Ms. Françoise Laufeur, it works by disseminating information on prison conditions around the world, assessing them against the yardstick of fundamental rights. Thanks to their research, their efforts contribute significantly to the fight against torture and the prevention of human rights violations.

The ceremony was punctuated by a number of high points, and provided an opportunity to bring together many of the major players working to promote fundamental rights around key issues…

For further information on the Prix Jacques Ribs and the various activities of the René Cassin Foundation, please visit our dedicated page: https: //iidh.org/autres-actions/prix-jacques-ribs/