By Martin Banks - 16th October 2008
“These awards are richly deserved
Margot Wallstrom
An organisation which has "tirelessly" campaigned for worker's rights in Iran was last night named as the joint winner of this year's Solidar silver rose award
The group, Syndicat Vahed, was named as winner in the international solidarity category.
Globetree, a Stockholm-based NGO working to promote children's rights,came out top in the social justice category.
The commission vice president Margot Wallstrom, who nominated Globetree, presented the awards - a ceramic rose - at a ceremony in parliament on Wednesday.
She paid tribute to the work done by Globetree’s president Kajsa Dahlstrom and the “tireless” efforts of the Iranian group.
“These awards are richly deserved,” she told a packed audience which also included Socialist group leader Martin Schulz and senior Danish MEP Poul Nyrup Rasmussen,who praised the work done by Solidar over the last 60 years.
Mehdi Kouhestaninejad, of Syndicat Vahed, said the group's work was made more difficult because membership of an independent trade union in Iran remains illegal.
"There are less than 20,000 members of independent trade unions but life for these people can be made very difficult by the authorities," he said.
"Our group has become the symbol of a free trade union movement in Iran and this prestigious award will be very useful in giving our members hope and optimism for the future."
Conny Reuter, secretary general of Solidar, said he hoped the award, albeit a symbolic one, would "help raise awareness" of the plight of such groups in Iran.
"This group has led a courageous and fearless struggle for the respect of woekrs' rights and social justice since its formation in 1968."
He also praised the efforts of Globetree for supporting child-related initiatives at local, national and international level.
The awards are given each year in honour of individuals or groups who dedicate their work to the pursuit of social justice. Past winners include Morgan Tsvangirai, until recently the opposition leader in Zimbabwe. The winners are chosen by a jury which comprises mostly of Socialist MEPs.
Solidar, the Brussels-based organisation which organises the awards, is this year celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.