19 April 2006, New York — The Philippine Mission to the United Nations today called on human rights groups in the Philippines to nominate candidates for the Reebok Human Rights Award, which is held annually in recognition of youth leaders who have been at the forefront of the fight for human rights worldwide.

In his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo, Ambassador Lauro L. Baja Jr., Permanent Representative to the UN, said Philippine human rights groups should be encouraged to submit their nominees for the prestigious award that was first given out in 1988.

"Filipino human rights activists have a strong chance of receiving the Reebok award because they are among the most active and vocal in our part of the world when it comes to the protection of human rights," Ambassador Baja said.

The award carries a $50,000 grant and brings national and international attention to each recipient's work.   It also gives moral support to the recipients and connects them to a network of 84 previous awardees from 38 countries.  The Reebok Human Rights Award Board of Advisers led by former President Jimmy Carter of the United States will choose the recipients.

Ambassador Baja said the first Filipino recipient of the award was Ernest Guevarra who was recognized in 2003 for advocating the fundamental right of innocent civilians to live free from conflict and to have access to health care.

Previous Reebok Human Rights Awardees include recipients who have worked on protecting children's rights; monitored human rights violations; protected the right of indigenous peoples; fought the sexual trafficking of women and children; and opposed discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Ambassador Baja said the award is open to human rights activists 30 years or younger who do not advocate violence or belong to an organization that advocates violence and who must be actively working, often against great odds, on some aspect of human rights as defined by the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Interested parties are urged to submit their nominations not later than 31 May 2006. Additional information can be obtained from www.reebok.com/humanrights or rhaward@reebok.com. END