FATHER BERNARD KINVI, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

Father Bernard Kinvi is a Catholic priest who directs the hospital at the Catholic mission in Bossemptele, northwestern Central African Republic. When brutal sectarian violence erupted in the country in 2013, Father Kinvi saved the lives of hundreds of besieged Muslims, whom he gathered from their homes and sheltered in the Catholic church.
The crisis began in March 2013, when mostly Muslim Seleka forces overthrew the government and unleashed a wave of violence, burning villages and killing untold numbers of people. In response, militias known as the anti-balaka that were recruited from the majority Christian population began attacking Seleka bases and the Muslim minority. As Seleka leaders were forced from power and fled, Muslim civilians faced the wrath of anti-balaka forces. In town after town, the Muslims were attacked and massacred, their homes and mosques destroyed.
Human Rights Watch's Alison Des Forges Award celebrates the valor of individuals who put their lives on the line to protect the dignity and rights of others, and honors Father Bernard Kinvi for his unwavering courage and dedication to protecting civilians in the Central African Republic.