Since 1986, the International Human Rights Law Group has honored the pioneering and often life-risking efforts of human rights leaders and organizations working on the front lines of human rights protections around the world. Our annual human rights celebrations also raise funds to help IHRLG continue working with activists and organizations throughout the world to make human rights real in their own countries.IHRLG bestows one or more of the following four awards each year:

• The International Human Rights Award to honor an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of human rights internationally.
• The Goler T. Butcher Award for Lifetime Achievement to honor an American for their life-long commitment to human rights. This award is given in memory a long-time IHRLG Board member and Professor of Law at Howard University who exemplified a noble spirit of service to human rights, international development and world peace.
• The International Human Rights Partners Award to recognize an IHRLG partner organization.
• The C. Anthony Friedrich Memorial Award to honor an individual or an organization that has made an outstanding pro bono contribution to human rights. IHRLG established this award in memory of a pro bono attorney who traveled to Nicaragua on behalf of IHRLG in 1989 and perished in a plane crash.

Individual, IHRLG local partners and US law firms providing pro bono services in support of human rights whom we have honored include Dr. Sima Samar (Afghanistan), John Hume (Northern Ireland), Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma), Rosa Parks (United States), La Coordinadora de la Sociedad Civil de Bilwi (Nicaragua), Burundaise pour L'Enfance et la Jeunesse (Burundi), Steptoe & Jonson, LLP and Melveny & Myers, LLP.

Contact Fiona Mac Niallais at info@hrlawgroup.org for more information.