Naw Ohn Hla, chairperson of Democracy and Peace Women Network, has been presented with the Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award 2020 by Civil Rights Defenders based in Sweden.

The award announcement was made on Human Rights Day on December 10.

Naw Ohn Hla has received the award for her exceptional perseverance in the fight against oppression and for her continued courage to stand up to those in power, Civil Rights Defenders said in its statement.

“We are standing by the victims of human rights violations. It is now encouraging to see that not only us but also the international community is standing by this. It also encourages us to do more,” said Naw Ohn Hla.

She said she would accept the award at the headquarters of Civil Rights Defenders in Sweden together with the 2021 award winner because this year sees the Covid-19 outbreak.

Naw Ohn Hla is also serving as general secretary of the United Nationalities Democracy Party.

The Civil Rights Defender of the Year Award is an award for outstanding work in defence of civil and political rights. It is awarded every year by Civil Rights Defenders. With the award, we recognise a prominent human rights defender who, despite the risk to their own safety, continues the struggle for civil and political rights, the statement says.

Previously, this award went to the activists from Turkey and South Sudan.