The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) awarded the Centre of Defenders Award to the Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) and the Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladesh, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the protection and promotion of the human rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Asia region.
LAHURNIP and the Kapaeeng Foundation were honoured for their courageous and exemplary leadership in advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples. They have been working to protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, including their rights to land, resources, self-determination, and autonomy.
The AIPP also awarded the Organisation with High Excellence and Indigenous Movement and Empowered Award to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), based in Denmark. The IWGIA is a non-governmental organisation that works to support the rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide.
The award ceremony was held on Sunday in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with the participation of more than 150 people from 14 Asian countries, titled "2024 Asia Preparatory Meeting on UN Mechanisms and Procedures Relating to Indigenous Peoples". The awards ceremony was an important opportunity to recognise the important work that indigenous peoples' groups are doing to protect their rights and promote their cultures.
"We are honoured to receive this award," said Bhim Rai, Secretary of LAHURNP. "This award is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of our institutional efforts to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples since 1995 in Nepal."
"We are honored to receive this award. This award is a recognition of the hard work and dedication of our institutional efforts to protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples since 1995 in Nepal," said Bhim Rai, Secretary of LAHURNP.
"We are committed to continuing our work to promote the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Bangladesh since 2004," said Pallab Chakma, Executive Director of the Kapaeeng Foundation. "We hope that this award will help to raise awareness of the challenges that Indigenous Peoples face in Bangladesh.
"The IWGIA is honoured to receive this award, which is equal to the Nobel Prize for Indigenous Peoples in Asia," said Kathrin Wessendorf, Executive Director of the IWGIA. "We are committed to working with Indigenous peoples around the world to protect their rights and promote their cultures."
The AIPP is a regional organisation of indigenous peoples' organisations in Asia. It was established in 1992 and is currently working in 14 countries in the region.
Centre of Defenders Award
The Center of Defenders Award is an award established by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) in 2024 to encourage individuals or organizations who have shown courageous and exemplary leadership in the field of human rights for Indigenous Peoples and who have made outstanding contributions to the field of human rights. The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) awarded the Centre of Defenders Award to the Lawyers’ Association for Human Rights of Nepalese Indigenous Peoples (LAHURNIP) and the Kapang Foundation, Bangladesh, for the first time.
Organisation with High Excellence, Indigenous Movement, and Empowered Award
The Organization with High Excellence and Indigenous Movement and Empowered Award was established by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) in 2024 to award the organizations of indigenous or non-indigenous tribes of the world who have shown excellent support and cooperation in the field of protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) has also awarded the Organisation with High Excellence and Indigenous Movement and Empowered Award to the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), based in Denmark, for the first time.
