Pakistani digital rights activist nominated for Dutch human rights award

The Human Rights Tulip is awarded annually by the Netherlands minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Dutch government, to an individual or organisation with a courageous and innovative way of promoting human rights. The aim is to bring their valuable work to the attention of the general public.

The ten nominees for this year are: Mwatana Organization For Human Rights (Yemen), Mr Pierre Claver Mbonimpa (Burundi), Ms Nighat Dad (Pakistan), the El Nadim Center (Egypt), Centro de Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres (Mexico), the native community of Santa Clara de Uchunya (Peru), Centro Prodh (Mexico), Mr Nguyễn Quang A (Vietnam), Ms Nahid Gabralla (Sudan) and the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) (Lebanon).

Out of the top three nominees chosen by public vote, foreign minister Bert Koenders will select the winner, whom he will present with the award – a bronze tulip-shaped statue – on International Human Rights Day, 10 December.

The candidates for the #humanrightstulip 2016 have been announced! Learn more and vote on humanrightstulip.nl

— Carola vanRijnsoever (@CvanRijnsoever) August 29, 2016

The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Justice and Peace Foundation in The Hague together select the nominees and provide support for the winning individual or organisation.

The winner also receives €100,000 in prize money, enabling them to expand the reach of the work and allow as many people as possible around the world to benefit from the award.

You can help Nighat win!

Until 7 September anyone can vote for Nighat Dad at vote.humanrightstulip.nl/nighat-dad

Who is Nighat Dad?

Nighat Dad is the Executive Director of Digital Rights Foundation, Pakistan. She is an accomplished lawyer and a human rights activist.

Nighat Dad is one of the pioneers who have been campaigning around access to open internet in Pakistan and globally. She has been actively campaigning and engaging at a policy level on issues focusing on Internet Freedom, Women and technology, Digital Security and Women’s empowerment.

Ms.Dad has been recently included in Next Generation Leaders List by TIME’s magazine for her work on helping women fight online harassment.