A human rights prize was this morning presented to a Guatemalan human rights activist in Dublin.
The Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at risk was presented to Dr Yuri Giovanni Melini by actor and human rights activist Martin Sheen.
The award, which was set up in 2004, honours Dr Melini's work on behalf of the rights of others in the face of great personal danger.
The human rights activist is director of Calas (Center of Legal Action in Environment and Social issues), which last year won a case in Guatemala's constitutional court to change laws that permitted opencast mining for gold and other metals.
Dr Melini had led a campaign against the water contamination and the occupation of land in nature reserves.
In September last year, Dr Melini survived an attempt on his life. He was shot a number of times and has survived four major surgeries. The attack has been linked to his environmental and human rights campaigning.
"I am deeply emotional and very thankful to Frontline, and I am very thankful for the welcome and embrace of the island of Ireland," he said. "Eight months after the attack, this means a lot to me because it keeps me going and gives me loads of support."
The award includes a €10,000 donation to Dr Melini's work, and a €5,000 personal honorarium.
Dr Melini said the attack had not discouraged him from his work. "I never lose faith, that would never happen to me. The attempt on my life had the opposite effect - it is like you are not cutting the tree, you are cutting the branches, so it will grow up again."
The award was set up in 2004 to honour the work of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the protection of human rights in the face of considerable personal risk.
Actor Martin Sheen praised Dr Melini for his work.
"He's one of the great heroes of the human rights movement and he is the reason why there is a Frontline. He may not have survived without Frontline," he said.
"He did not have any money for the operation and for the immediate care. Frontline funded it instantly and shone a light on him while he was recovering. Frontline's presence in his recuperation instantly helped to save his life. That alone is extraordinary."
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin extended his congratulations to Dr Melini.
“Despite enduring terrible physical violence because of his advocacy, Dr Melini has continued to work tirelessly to protect the environment and uphold the rights of indigenous people,” he said.
The Minister also announced that the Department of Foreign Affairs had arranged for the provision of an Irish translation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
The ceremony also saw the Irish head of UN Relief Agency in Gaza, John Ging, receive an exceptional award.
Taking the award, Mr Ging said he was reluctant to accept it on his own behalf, praising the staff of the agency. “I am privileged to be here representing them and very honoured to accept on their behalf,” he said.
Mr Ging said the situation for the people in Gaza had worsened.
“They are essentially subsisting with just basic food and medicine, no reconstruction of their homes and they are losing hope."
“It’s an illegal situation. People are being denied access to their human rights, and the result of that is massive amounts of human misery. This is a man-made crisis and it requires a political solution. First thing in the political solution has to be respect for basic human rights," Mr Ging said.
"These are decent civilised people who are being denied their basic fundamental rights. The consequence of that is that they are living in abject misery - unnecessarily.”
Front Line, founded in 2001, is an NGO based in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, that seeks to protect vulnerable human rights defenders.