“Ginetta Sagan’s name is synonymous with the fight for human rights around the world. She represents to all the triumph of the human spirit over tyranny.”
– President Bill Clinton
Purpose
The purpose of the Ginetta Sagan Fund of Amnesty International USA is to support courageous women human rights defenders who are working in dangerous contexts to further the rights of women and children. The creation of the Ginetta Sagan Fund emphasizes that more human rights work must be done by and for women. The $20,000 award recognizes individual accomplishment, but also serves as a beacon of hope to women everywhere who are fighting for human rights.
The Award
- Recognizes outstanding achievement, often at great personal risk.
- Enhances the recipient’s ability to live and work freely, and protects the recipient’s capacity to continue her work, by bringing a new level of international attention to her accomplishments and the obstacles she faces.
- Brings increased international scrutiny to the crisis, region, or issue for which the recipient works.
Awardee Qualities
- Founder and/or Executive Director of an organization.
- Under threat for her activism.
- Proven effective at addressing human rights issues.
- Has brought about significant change in her country, region, or issue through her work.
Visit this page for information about previous awardees.
History of the Ginetta Sagan Fund
For more than three decades, the late Ginetta Sagan, (1925-2000), recipient of the 1996 Presidential Medal of Freedom, fought for the lives and rights of prisoners of conscience throughout the world. A tireless crusader and eternal optimist, Ginetta and her passionate dedication inspired generations of human rights advocates. In honor of her humanitarian achievements, Amnesty International USA created the Ginetta Sagan Fund in 1994, one of AIUSA’s first permanently endowed funds and the only fund that specifically addresses the needs of women and children. The Ginetta Sagan Fund ensures the continuation in perpetuity of Ginetta’s human rights legacy and brings worldwide attention to the abuses perpetrated on women and children. For further information please visit this page.
Award Information
The $20,000 award can be used by the awardee at her complete discretion. The money is awarded to the individual, not the organization. With the $20,000 award to be used at the awardee’s discretion, the Ginetta Sagan Award also seeks to support the awardee to receive training to assist in her ongoing work. To this end, in addition to the $20,000 award, the awardee can receive up to $5,000 to further their professional development. This can include covering her expenses to participate in, and/or attend trainings throughout 2022.
Nomination Guidelines
A political party leader or government official / employee is not eligible for the Ginetta Sagan Fund award. Amnesty International is a strictly non-partisan organization. Nomination form and letters of recommendation must be received by September 2, 2023.
Nomination Form
We ask that the nomination form be completed as thoroughly and with as much detail as possible. The nomination form can be completed by anyone who knows about the nominee and her work.
Two Letters of Recommendation
Each letter of recommendation should inform the Selection Committee about why the candidate is deserving of the Ginetta Sagan Award for Women’s and Children’s Rights. To the extent that it is relevant, please include any personal background related to human rights. Please include answers to the following questions:
- What kinds of personal interactions have you had with the candidate? How would you characterize those interactions?
- What compels you to nominate this candidate?
- How has the candidate impacted and/or transformed her community through her work? Examples from past nominees include changes to legislation, raising the profile of the issue in her country and internationally, providing life-saving services, etc. Please be as inclusive as possible.
- A story or history about how or why the candidate became involved in human rights issues.
- Any other relevant information you would like to include.
These two letters can be from anyone familiar with the nominee’s human rights work. If possible, please have these two letters sent along with the nomination package. Please be sure to attach the letter of recommendation from each recommender to your submission through this online form.
Photograph
Please be sure to attach a photograph of the nominee to be used for press materials through this online form. Please be sure that the GSF has legal permission to use the photograph in all media.
Supporting Materials
Any additional material that can help the Selection Committee gain insight into the candidate would be very helpful. This can include website links to press, interviews, and any other relevant information. Please submit those materials as document attachments.
Deadline
Nomination form and letters of recommendation must be received by September 2, 2023. Please submit your completed nomination form and all supporting materials via this online form. If you have any questions or problems with this form, please email [email protected].
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