Human Rights Now is pleased to announce that it has been awarded the 12th Okinawa Peace Prize. We are delighted that our steady activities for the victims of human rights violations have been recognized. We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us and helped us  receive this prestigious award.

Since its establishment in 2006, Human Rights Now has been working to resolve human rights issues around the world, particularly in Asia. Human Rights Now has faced today’s increasingly complex world with the ideal of realizing a peaceful world without conflict through the elimination of serious human rights violations.

Encouraged by this wonderful award from Okinawa Prefecture, we renew our determination to raise awareness of human rights issues among even more people and to work toward the realization of a free and peaceful society where human rights and dignity are respected for all.

War is the greatest violation of human rights. However, even today, innocent people are being killed in conflicts around the world. Issues concerning human rights, such as violence against women and environmental destruction in Okinawa Prefecture, cannot be discussed without reference to war and U.S. military bases.

Human Rights Now will continue to build a foundation for sustainable peace by conveying the voices of victims both in Japan and abroad to ensure that the human rights of each and every individual are respected.

The selection committee of the Okinawa Peace Prize has expressed its hope that the activities of our organization will continue to expand, thereby raising awareness of human rights and creating a peaceful and stable world. We are determined to further strengthen our efforts to address issues surrounding peace and human rights and to work together in solidarity with people around the world to achieve a truly peaceful society.

We are deeply humbled by the award and the high expectations that it has raised for our future activities. We hope that it will bring positive attention to our activities.

Once again, we thank Okinawa prefecture and the selection committee of the Okinawa Peace Prize from the bottom of our hearts.

Okinawa Peace Prize is designed to honor individuals and organizations that have contributed to the creation and maintenance of peace in the Asia-Pacific region, which has close geographical and historical ties with Okinawa, with the aim of creating a new international peace from an Okinawan perspective, taking advantage of Okinawa’s unique characteristics.