National Endowment for Democracy is hosting an event tomorrow to honor Floribert Bahizire.
From the invitation (see below): "The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the worldwide human rights community suffered a terrible loss on June 1 when human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizire was apparently assassinated after being summoned by the police. Floribert was undoubtedly Congo's most prominent, committed, courageous human rights activist."
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The National Endowment for Democracy
invites you to
A memorial symposium
honoring
Floribert Chebeya Bahizire
(1963-2010)
Panelists:
Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State
Learned Dees, Democracy and Human Rights Officer for the Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Guillaume Ngefa, Founder and Former President of the Association Africaine de Defense des Droits de l'Homme (ASADHO)
Mvemba Dizolele, Peter J. Duignan Distinguished Visiting Fellow 2009 - 2012, Stanford University
Moderator:
Dave Peterson, SeniorDirector, Africa, National Endowment for Democracy
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Main Conference Room
1025 F Street, NW Suite 800
Washington, DC 20004
RSVP to Amandap@ned.org
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The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the worldwide human rights community suffered a terrible loss on June 1 when human rights defender Floribert Chebeya Bahizire was apparently assassinated after being summoned by the police. Floribert was undoubtedly Congo's most prominent, committed, courageous human rights activist. From his early years when he won the Reebok Human Rights awards in 1992 for fighting the Mobutu dictatorship, through the national conference process, the civil war, the Laurent Kabila regime, the Congolese elections, and the current deteriorating dispensation - Floribert persevered, finally paying the ultimate price for his vision of a free and democratic Congo. He should be remembered as one of Congo's greatest freedom fighters, a leader of Africa's democratic movement, and an international human rights giant.
It was 20 years ago when the Endowment first encountered Floribert, and awarded a grant to the organization he led, La Voix des Sans Voix, in 1991 for $31,289. It was the first grant NED made in Zaire, and there can be no question that Floribert paved the way and set the standard for all that followed. In recognition of his unsurpassed contribution to the cause of democracy and human rights, the NED is proud to host this memorial symposium honoring the life and work of Floribert Chebeya Bahizire.
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National Endowment for Democracy
1025 F St. NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20004
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Submitted by Tobias Eigen on 22 June, 2010 - 10:22
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