The Human Rights Watch has announced today granting its Alison Des Forges Award for the Extraordinary Activism for 2014 to four activists including Yemeni female activist Arwa Abdu Othman.
HRW said in a release posted in the organization's website, the prestigious award has been granted this year to four courageous activists from North Korea, Africa, India and Yemen.
"The winners are among voices calling for justice in their countries and working tirelessly for protecting rights of others and their dignity," said the organization, making it clear that it chose Arawa Othman because she is a key activist working for ending child marriage in Yemen.
During 2011 protests in Yemen, Othman was among the most opponents who called for respecting human rights and equality between the two sexes, the release went on. It further said Othman is credited with easing some strong recommendations included in the National Dialogue Conference entrusted with making the new Yemeni constitution that includes equality between the two sexes, prohibiting discrimination and defining the minimum marriage age at 18.
The Executive Director of HRW Kenneth Ruth, for his part, said the award is to honor people are known for their extraordinary courage and work for the weakest people in the world.
"The winners sided with the opposition, did not choose carelessness and their lives have been subjected to danger," said Ruth.
Arwa Othman is a writer, journalist, anthropology researcher and leading advocate working to end child marriage in Yemen.
In 2013, Othman participated in Yemen’s national dialogue conference, tasked with shaping the country’s new constitution. The recommendations by the rights and freedom committee, which Othman headed, are among the most progressive and rights-respecting to come out of the process.