2007 Human Rights Award Dinner
Monday, October 15: Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, New York City
Dinner Host: Meredith Vieira
2007 Award Honoree: Fariba Davoodi Mohajer
Distinguished Guests: General Joseph P. Hoar, USMC (ret.), Major General Fred E. Haynes, USMC (ret.), and other senior retired military leaders.
Special Guest and Presenters: Sam Waterston, Sigourney Weaver
Photo Album
Speaking Out for Iranian Women
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| 2007 Human Rights First Award Honoree |
Fariba Davoodi Mohajer believes that her rights as a woman, mother, human rights activist, and Iranian citizen are indivisible. She has dedicated her life to challenging laws that discriminate against Iranian women, including the lack of legal recourse for victims of violence against women. As a founder of the One Million Signatures Campaign for women’s rights, Fariba has been a leading voice in this struggle. As a result of her activism, she has been detained and beaten, and her family has been threatened. Despite this persecution, she continues to devote herself to the cause of human rights in Iran.
Speaking Out for the Rule of Law
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| Several of the leaders, April 2007 |
In the aftermath of Abu Ghraib, Human Rights First began to work with more than forty retired generals and admirals who were deeply concerned about U.S. policies that sanction torture and dishonor the values that American servicemembers fight to protect. These retired officers are working with us to bring detainee treatment back into line with the Geneva Conventions and ensure that torture is never again a part of U.S. policy. We will recognize the leadership of these extraordinary men and women whose commitment to human rights is grounded in the principles on which this country was founded.
Speaking Out for Iraqi Refugees
More than 2 million Iraqi refugees have fled to other countries from persecution and violence in Iraq. Another 2 million are displaced within Iraq. Some have fled religious or ethnic persecution. Others have been targeted because of their work for the U.S. government or the media. Iraqis who have served as translators for U.S. forces, for example, have been attacked and threatened.
Human Rights First’s Lifeline for Iraqi Refugees project is working to secure a comprehensive response to the Iraqi refugee crisis. The United States has a tradition of giving refuge to the persecuted and assistance to the victims of war. Yet we have failed to open our doors to Iraqi refugees. We ask the United States to bring some of the most vulnerable refugees to safety through a major resettlement initiative and to lead the international community in providing aid for refugees and those displaced within Iraq.
Human Rights First is speaking out for Iraqi refugees. The stability of the region, the moral credibility of the United States and the protection of human rights are all at risk.
Speaking Out for Excellence in Television
 Human Rights First created this award to honor a TV program that self-consciously uses the medium to raise awareness about a human rights problem. We are giving the award to a TV show that depicts torture and interrogation in a nuanced, realistic fashion. Too often on TV torture is presented as effective and even patriotic. On programs like 24 and Sleeper Cell, torture is routinely employed by heroes and the problems associated with this practice are rarely explored. A handful of shows have resisted this formulaic depiction. They offer their viewers – and notably, young people considering a career in the armed services - a more complete view of what can happen in the interrogation booth at a time when these issues are being hotly debated in the United States and overseas. In giving this award, we recognize the awesome power of TV to not only entertain, but also to educate and inspire. MORE >>
| 2007 Human Rights Award Dinner Committee |
Dinner Chairs
Andi and Tom A. Bernstein
Diane S. and Kenneth R. Feinberg
Gail Furman
Deborah Miller and William D. Zabel |
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Dinner Committee
Dr. Rosalind and Mr. Adam Abram
Elsie V. and M. Bernard Aidinoff
Robert and Helen Bernstein
William S. Bernstein
David Boies
John K. Castle
James Chanos
Kenneth I. Chenault
Lynda M. Clarizio
Deborah and Craig Cogut
Jennifer L. Colyer
Brigadier General Jim Cullen (ret.)
Daniel Doctoroff
Donald Francis Donovan and Jennifer Lake
Matthew and Ginger Dontzin
Peter Edelman
Edward P. Evans
Leslie Gimbel and Marc Kusnetz
Myrna and Steve Greenberg
Peter and Helen Haje
Virginia and Robert Joffe
Helene and Mark Kaplan
Ned and Marcia Kaplin
Kerry Kennedy
The Mark and Anla Cheng
Kingdon Foundation
Orin S. Kramer
Dr. Mathilde Krim
Jo Backer Laird and Michael Danoff
Robert Todd Lang
Stephen S. Lash
Kit and Geraldine Laybourne
Ted and Lynn Leonsis |
Noel and Harriette Levine
Leon Levy Foundation
Ogden Lewis
Jesse Margolin
Robert B. Menschel
George A. Miller and Janet McKinley
Robert and Adriana Mnuchin
Charlotte Moss and Barry Friedberg
Beth and Joshua Nash
Robert M. Pennoyer
Lizanne and Barry Rosenstein
Nathaniel de Rothschild
Valerie and Michael Rozen
Andrew Sabin
Steven H. Schulman
Rena Shulsky and Dr. Sami David
Richard Shutran
John S. Siffert
Riva and Alan B. Slifka
Harold Snyder and Tamar
Hirschl Snyder
Mary Ann, Gideon, Noah, Dorothy
and Zoey Stein
Judy and Michael Steinhardt
Rose Styron
Jay and Kelly Sugarman
Jeffrey S. Trachtman
George and Trish Vradenburg
Lynn Witkowski
James W. Ziglar
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 Previous Human Rights Award Honorees |
