14 December 2009, 18:00
Organization "Let's Save the Generation" from Chechnya awarded French human rights premium
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France has awarded the premium of the French Republic "Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood" to the Chechen NGO "Let's Save the Generation". This French premium is awarded every year on the International Day of Human Rights, December 10, to five human rights organizations from different countries of the world.
To get nominated for the premium, each organization should present its project on defence of human rights. The Chechen NGO "Let's Save the Generation" has presented its project entitled "The Centre for Defence of Social and Economic Rights of Children with Disabilities". The point was about the kids who have suffered from mine explosions.
The "Caucasian Knot" reported that this August Zarema Sadulayeva, head of this NGO, and her husband Alik Dzhabrailov were kidnapped by unidentified persons and later found assassinated.
Instead of Zarema Sadulayeva, the premium was received by Adlan Mukhammedov, a new coordinator of the organization "Let's Save the generation". He said that the activity of the human rights organization will go on; however, now the NGO is at a stage of formation.
The award to the laureates was handed over by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of France Bernard Kushner. In his speech, the Minister has especially noted the work of the Human Rights Society "Memorial" and Russian human rights activists as a whole.
"I recollect today our friends from the 'Memorial' and want to especially commemorate Natalia Estemirova, and also Zarema Sadulayeva, director of the human rights organization 'Let's Save the Generation', and her husband. These three human rights activists were killed in Russia among many other ones. I also recollect Anna Politkovskaya, Anastasia Baburova and Stanislav Markelov and many other activists worldwide; I cannot list all the names now. I'd like this premium and the recognition that in brings to grant protection; although, alas, so far the defence is too shaky," the International French Radio quotes Mr Kushner as saying.
Today, the presence of international humanitarian organizations at Chechnya shrinks. However, the reason is not in safety of their employees, as reported by Semyon Rasin, head of the Russian organization "International Medical Corps" (IMC).
"The point is that no funding is already allotted to this region by sponsors - it's no longer regarded as severely damaged. The war was over many years ago. Unfortunately, they neglect the continuing shelling and skirmishes, as these phenomena are still present in many countries of the world," Mr Rasin has explained.
Author: Anastasia Kirilenko Source: CK correspondent