1998 United Nations Human Rights Prizes.

On 10 December, the United Nations awarded the 1998 Human Rights Prizes to five outstanding individuals, honouring them for their courage and determination in upholding human rights. A sixth prize pays tribute to all human rights defenders all over the world.

The recipients, selected from among 400 nominations, are:

* Sunila Abeyesekara is the Executive Director of INFORM, a key human rights organization in Sd Lanka. An activist for almost 30 years on women's rights, armed conflicts and conflict resolution, she has been influential in advocacy within the UN human rights system and has established several organizations supporting human rights and democracy in her country.

* Angelina Acheng Atyam, a midwife and mother of six, is a founding member of the Concerned Parents Association. The organization represents Ugandan parents demanding the release of their daughters, 139 girls from St. Mary's School, abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army in October 1996. A powerful spokesperson, giving voice to thousands of families whose children have been abducted, she has worked tirelessly to secure the release of the children in captivity.

* Jimmy Carter, former United States President, has long been committed to the international defence of human rights. contributing to a peaceful solution of the civil war in Liberia and the restoration of democracy in Haiti. On various occasions, the Garter Center, based in Atlanta, United States, has played a significant role in brokering peace talks between warring parties.

* Jose Gregori, head of the recently created National Secretariat for Human Rights, has been involved in defending human rights for over 40 years. When the military regime took power in Brazil, he worked for the restoration of democracy in his country. He has also been active in strengthening national and regional cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights.

* One of the founding members of "Charter 77"-a forum of civic resistance against Soviet domination in Czechoslovakia - Anna Sabatova has been involved in human rights activities for three decades. She was sentenced to three years imprisonment for distributing leaflets, reminding the citizens of her country that to vote in parliamentary elections is not a duty but a right.

This year's Prize to Human Rights Defenders honours the thousands of courageous individuals who straggle to promote human rights through their involvement in civic organization, the media, the courts, police...