Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee

Memorial Award for Activism in Human Rights

The award for Activism in Human Rights was launched in 2016 by the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Committee and is announced at the annual Scholarship Fund Dinner. The award of $1,000 is offered each year in recognition of an individual or organization whose actions exemplify Alison’s uncompromising commitment to advancing the cause of human rights and social justice in Western New York and throughout the world. 

Award Criteria

The Alison L. Des Forges Award is given in recognition of an individual or organization whose actions have exemplified Alison’s uncompromising commitment to advancing the cause of human rights of people in Western New York and throughout the world.

Those actions can include:                      

• Advocacy of equality and justice for all, through public discourse, debate or publications;

• Promotion of public policies that seek to impede abuses of human rights; and

• Initiation of and participation in professional or volunteer programs and organizations that seek to ensure and extend human rights.

Awardees should be of exemplary personal character, seeking no personal recognition or reward for their commitment to human rights, including the free exercise of political and religious beliefs.

To nominate a candidate for the annual Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Award, please send a letter of recommendation no later than March 16 to the address below. If you prefer to submit your application electronically, please do so to irlam@buffalo.edu.

Nominations

The Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Awards Subcommittee is accepting nominations for the Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Award for Activism in Human Rights. To nominate a candidate for the annual Alison L. Des Forges Memorial Award, please send a letter of recommendation no later than March 16 to the address below.  If you prefer to submit your application electronically, please do so to irlam@buffalo.edu and irlam1@yahoo.com.                             

The letter shall include:         

• Nominee’s full name

• Nominee’s contact information, including home address, telephone number, and email address

• Advocate’s single-page description of the nominee’s contribution to the advancement of human rights, including her or his unique qualifications

• Advocate’s name, affiliation, and contact information

The complete file will include two other confidential letters in support of the nomination to be solicited by the advocate and sent to:

Prof. Shaun Irlam Chair, Alison L. Des Forges Award Sub-Committee
Department of Comparative Literature
University at Buffalo • 639 Clemens Hall • Buffalo, NY 14260