January 2020
Civil Courage News Journal of the Civil Courage Prize Vol. 16, No. 1 • January 2020 For Steadfast Resistance to Evil at Great Personal Risk Videos at the Ceremony The 2019 Civil Courage Prize- Highlight the Importance Winner Gonzalo Himiob Santomé of the Laureate's Wo r k Speaks of Venezuela's Struggles t this year's Civil Courage Prize n October 21, 2019, the normal citizen," who is willing to A ceremony, highlights included O Train Foundation award- fight "in order to get peace, justice, videos about the human rights work ed the Civil Courage Prize to and freedom back when it has been done by Gonzalo Himiob Santomé and Venezuelan lawyer, writer, musician, wrongfully taken away." The Prize Foro Penal in Venezuela. poet, and human rights activist "reminds us that anyone who truly Because she was not able to attend, Gonzalo Himiob wishes to…can former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Santomé. He, and make a difference." Samantha Power, who nominated Alfredo Romero, He noted how Himiob for the prize, sent a video. with whom he "the evil, violence, At the U.N., Power became familiar "shares the honor," persecution, and with Himiob's work; both his personal co-founded Foro death, has invaded involvement in individual cases and his Penal, an organiza- almost each aspect coordination of the efforts of Foro tion that helps to of our lives," mak- Penal’s lawyers and volunteers who help free prisoners arbi- ing people believe people "subjected to politically moti- trarily detained by "the lines between vated arrests." She also saw their work his government, what is correct and with families of those killed by security and also documents Gonzalo Himiob Santomé incorrect, what is forces while they protested the corrup- detainees, political prisoners, right and wrong, are vague and even tion and failure of the Maduro regime.
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