The 2010 Tipperary International Peace Prize is being awarded to Afghani human rights activist Dr Sima Samar it has been announced this week.
The announcement of the award was made on January 1 in a statement issued by the Tipperary Peace Convention.
The statement claims that Dr Samar is “an amazingly brave woman who has risked her life to fight for the rights of both woman and girls in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
The statement also states, “Dr Samar has devoted her life for fighting for both freedom and democracy in Afghanistan, putting her life at immense risk and overcoming numerous obstacles for the welfare of oppressed women and children.”
“She has led a life full of firsts, displaying remarkable courage and commitment in improving the lives of Afghani women and children and has refused to yield on principle, even at the risk to her own life.”
“Dr Simar is a principled and outspoken proponent of human rights and the need for a true reconciliatory process, and is a very worthy recipient of the Tipperary International Peace Award.”
A medical doctor by profession, Dr Samar currently leads the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC).
She also acted as the UN's Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Sudan from 2005 to 2009 and in 2008, was nominated for the post of United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights.
She has had to flee Afghanistan on several occasions because of threats on her life but has always returned to help the country.
Dr Samar will travel to Tipperary Town on a date to be arranged to collect the award.
Previous recipients include former South African President Nelson Mandela, former US President Bill Clinton, Live Aid Organiser Bob Geldof, and last year's recipient was the late Senator Ted Kennedy.
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