HONORING HEROES OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY IN AFGHANISTAN
July 13, 2005
On July 13, the National Endowment for Democracy presented its annual Democracy Award to three democratic activists from Afghanistan. Ms. Sakena Yacoobi, Founder, Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), Mr. Mohammad Nasib, Director, Welfare Association for Development of Afghanistan, and Mr. Sarwar Hussaini, Chairman, Cooperation Center for Afghanistan, are leaders of civil society organizations who have worked diligently to educate citizens and local leaders about the basic values and principles of democracy, the rights of women and ethnic minorities, strategies for peace-building and conflict resolution and the importance of broad political participation.
The Awards were presented by:
- Senator Hillary R. Clinton (D-NY) to Sakena Tacoobi
- Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to Mohammad Nasib
- Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) to Sarwar Hussaini
Additional Speakers at the award ceremony included:
- Vin Weber, Chairman, NED Board of Directors
- Paula Dobriansky, Global Affairs Under Secretary
- Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghan Ambassador
- Carl Gershman, President NED
The award presentation was preceded by a panel discussion on Building Democracy in Afghanistan: The Challenges Ahead. The honorees were joined in this discussion by:
- Francis Fukuyama
- Robert L. Barry
- Barbara E. Haig
- Barnett R. Rubin
- S. Frederick Starr
CONTRIBUTORS
Sponsor
The Hurford Foundation
Benefactor
American Federation of Teachers
Supporters
Emmanuel Kampouris, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US, The Whitehead Foundation
Contributors
John Brademas, Fred Ikle, Gonzalo de Las Heras, Sushma and Mark Palmer
We also wish to acknowledge the gracious assistance of Julie Finley, Tom Marsh, Amb. Said Tayeb Jawad and the Embassy of Afghanistan.
PRESS COVERAGE
Honoring Afghan Activists, by Nora Boustany, The Washington Post, July 13, 2005
Afghan Leaders Honored, The Washington Times, July 14, 2005
