2016 Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism

Five courageous and tireless advocates for human rights have been selected as 2016 recipients of the prestigious Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism, Human Rights Watch said today.
Kalpona Akter toiled long hours as a former child worker in Bangladesh’s garment factories. She suffered retribution for organizing fellow garment workers to demand fair labor rights, but would not be deterred. Human Rights Watch honors Kalpona Akter’s dedication to championing the rights of workers in Bangladesh’s garment factories.
Pierre Claver Mbonimpa has dedicated his life to denouncing rights violations against prisoners, activists, and individuals from all social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds in Burundi. His work has made him a target and in 2015, he narrowly survived an attempted assassination. Human Rights Watch honors Pierre Claver Mbonimpa for his extraordinary courage in the face of the brutal crackdown on freedom of expression in Burundi.
Yonous Muhammadi is a leading defender of refugee rights in Greece, where he secured asylum after fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan. He conducts outreach aimed at informing refugees of their rights in Greece, providing access to medical services, and remedying inadequate reception conditions. Human Rights Watch honors Yonous Muhammadi for his unwavering courage and commitment to protecting the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in Greece.
Nicholas Opiyo is a leading human rights lawyer and founder of Chapter Four Uganda, a human rights organization. He has successfully argued several high-level constitutional challenges, including to the notorious Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2013, which was declared null and void in August 2014. Human Rights Watch honors Nicholas Opiyo for his unfaltering dedication to upholding the human rights of all Ugandans by promoting universal access to justice.
For more than two decades, Ratnaboli Ray has been a leading advocate for the rights of people with mental health conditions in India. Ray spearheads efforts to stop abuses within government institutions, combat stigma, and provide skills training. Human Rights Watch honors Ratnaboli Ray for leading the fight – often at great personal risk – to move India toward a rights-based system of mental health care.