Ranchi: Social activist Father Stan Swamy was honoured at the award distribution function of Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders 2022, referred to as the Nobel Prize of human rights defenders, posthumously in Geneva on Thursday evening.
Fr Stan had formed several organisations to promote human rights, particularly among the Adivasi community in Jharkhand. He also worked for the displaced persons of the state.
The chair of the jury for the Martin Ennals Award, Hans Thoolen, said on the award website, "Father Stan Swamy was nominated for the award in the spring of 2021, but sadly he passed away before it could be awarded to him."
The award was given to living human rights defenders and the organisers made a special homage to Stan posthumously this year.
Notably, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested Fr Stan from Ranchi on October 8, 2020, for his alleged links with the Bhima Koregaon violence, an accusation that Fr Stan had denied.
At an age of 84 and suffering from Parkinson's disease, Stan had difficulty eating and drinking while in prison. His condition became critical and was admitted to the hospital. He passed away on July 5, 2021.
