Dr. Harsh Mander from India Receives Human Rights Award from FAU
Indian human rights activist receives first FAU Human Rights Award
Germany has a new human rights award, presented by FAU. The FAU Human Rights Award honours internationally distinguished individuals who are committed to human rights research, teaching and practice.
The inaugural recipient is the Indian human rights scholar and practitioner Dr. Harsh Mander.
FAU’s Vice President Research, Prof. Dr. Georg Schett, presented the award and praised Dr. Mander’s exceptional efforts against hate crimes, his work with street children and other socially excluded people.
“Human rights research is an interdisciplinary focus area at FAU since 2009,” explained Prof. Dr. Georg Schett, Vice President Research at FAU. “The FAU Human Rights Award is a new initiative, intended to honour outstanding individuals who have advanced the field with their research, and who are also very practically committed to combating human rights violations. We are proud to honour Dr. Harsh Mander, a worthy inaugural recipient.”
Dr. Harsh Mander is an Indian human rights researcher and practitioner who works with street children and individuals experiencing mass violence, hunger or homelessness. “This award is a great honour for me and shows me that our issues are being heard internationally,” says Dr. Harsh Mander. “Indian human rights defenders, including myself, are currently experiencing increasing state repression, so international solidarity is very important to us. I am also personally excited about the opportunity to work closely with FAU’s Centre for Human Rights in the coming years and teach students here.”
About Dr. Harsh Mander
Dr. Harsh Mander joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1980, where he served in high-level positions in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In 2002, he took early retirement in protest against the state’s role in the communal massacre in Gujarat. Later, Dr. Mander served as a Special Commissioner of the Supreme Court of India, working on the realization of the right to food. As a member of the Prime Minister’s National Advisory Council, he was primarily concerned with social policy and legislation.
In addition, Dr. Mander was involved in civil society campaigns, such as a social movement that successfully advocated for the right to information in India. In 2002, he was on the PRIO shortlist for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dr. Mander has written numerous books, earned a PhD from Vrije University in Amsterdam, and taught as an adjunct lecturer at prestigious universities in India and abroad.
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