EU Ambassador hands HRs awards to Sudanese lawyer, singer

In a ceremony at the premises of the EU Embassy in Khartoum, Ulicny handed the 2015 EU Human Rights Medal to singer and artist Mohamed El Amin, who “shaped the diverse identity of Sudanese through his music for freedom and for unifying the Sudanese through his melodies for the past fifty years.

Lawyer and human rights defender Nabil Adib received the annual award of the EU Champions of Human Rights for “his intellectual work to strengthen constitutional law in Sudan”.

The EU Ambassador said in his speech that the ceremony on Thursday also commemorates the introduction of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) in Sudan ten years ago.

“This basic EU tool for promoting human rights worldwide, so far supported 105 projects implemented by 120 local and international actors in the area of human rights.”

He said that the European Instrument was “especially designed to disperse recurrent accusation of the EU intervention into internal affairs through [its] human rights agenda.

“The Instrument serves the civil society, local, and international organisations independently deciding about the areas and ways of support. EIDHR can only make a real difference if it is used and coordinated by the beneficiaries in the most efficient way.”

For the past seventeen years, the EU Delegation to Sudan annually celebrates the International Day for human rights. It has awarded the medal of Champions for Human Rights to distinguished activists like Amin Mekki Madani, Faisal Mohamed Saleh, El Balabil singers, El Ahfad University, No for Women Oppression Initiative, Jelila Koko, Prof. Faroug Ibrahim and the University of Khartoum.