Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Professor sits on international human rights award jury
The Swiss event saw Professor Halpin – on behalf of HURIDOCS - join figures from nine other leading Human Rights non-governmental organisations to panel the award which crowned Alejandra Ancheita, the winner of The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders.
Alejandra, who as the winner became the 2014 Laureate, is a Mexican lawyer and activist who leads the fight for the rights of the migrants, workers, and indigenous communities of her native country to dramatically raise their standard of living.
Professor Halpin, from the School of Computing and Creative Technologies at Leeds Beckett, who last year was commissioned by child rights organisation Plan International, to undertake a six-month feasibility study on their proposals to develop and deliver a Missing Children Alert System, commented: “It was an absolute privilege to be on the Jury for such an important and special award ceremony.
“The Award is given to Human Rights Defenders who have shown deep commitment and face great personal risk. The aim of the award is to provide protection through international recognition, strongly supported by the City of Geneva.”
Professor Halpin has a background in politics, community development and social informatics/information management. He has worked as an expert for the European Parliament Scientific and Technical Options (STOA) Unit on human rights information, the Child Rights Information Network (CRIN), the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (Monitoring Children’s Rights: A Tool Kit for Community-Based Organisations), and is an associate Schumann Fellow of the European University in Florence.
He has undertaken research funded by the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women, European Parliament, European Commission, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), British Council, Rowntree, and other charitable trusts.
HURIDOCS is an international non-governmental organisation helping human rights organisations use information technologies and documentation methods to maximise the impact of their advocacy work.
Find out more at: http://www.martinennalsaward.org/