[Reader-list] Dr. Binayak Sen wins the prestigious Jonathan Mann Award 2008!!! Indian Government holds this great doctor as a prisoner

Thu Apr 24 01:12:48 IST 2008

Dear All, I think this ought to interest at least some of the folks who are
members of this list.
Apologies if found irrelevant or intrusive.
Samantak

Dr. Binayak Sen has won the prestigious Jonathan Mann award for Global
Health and Human Rights!! This is in recognition of his lifetime of work in
the fields of public health and human rights in Chhattisgarh.

This comes as a great boost for the 'Free Binayak Sen' campaign at a vital
time. His trial begins in less than 10 days and the one year anniversary of
his illegal arrest is on May 14 2008. People's movement all around the World
are protesting his illegal detention on May 14th. For more details, please
write to : Srinadhm(at)gmail.com / Somu(at)aidindia.org

Excerpts below, including a strong support statement from eminent members of
the global medical fraternity.

Let us send a loud and clear message demanding justice.
http://petitions.aidindia.org/Binayak_Dec_2007/  and
http://www.freebinayaksen.org/
BBC Report: Jailed rights activist wins award
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7361046.stmIn Solidarity,

AID's Free Binayak Sen Campaign Team

Jailed Indian Doctor Wins 2008 Jonathan Mann Award
http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/9833

April 21, 2008

[image: Dr. Binayak Sen, with boy]The Global Health Council announced April
21 that the winner of the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and
Human Rights is Dr. Binayak Sen of Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. Sen, who
helped establish a hospital serving poor mine workers in the region, founded
a health and human rights organization that supports community health
workers in 20 villages, and is an officer of the People's Union for Civil
Liberties (PUCL), has been imprisoned in Raipur for nearly a year without
trial as a result of allegations that he violated state antiterrorism laws.
Sen denies committing any crime.

The Global Health Council and several prominent global health organizations
have issued a statement of support for Sen, requesting that Indian
authorities find the means to allow the doctor to receive his award in
person on May 29 at the 35th Annual International Conference on Global
Health in Washington, D.C.

View full statement of support from global health organizations on behalf of
Dr. Sen:

   - View statement of
support<http://www.globalhealth.org/images/pdf/conf_2008/042108_statmt_support_dr_sen.pdf>
   .
   - View press
release<http://www.globalhealth.org/assets/press/042108_drsen_jmann.pdf>
   .
   - View more information about Dr. Sen's
work<http://www.globalhealth.org/images/pdf/conf_2008/041608_mann_award.pdf>
   .
   - View website, People's Union for Civil Liberties:
   http://www.pucl.org/.
   - View more information on the Council's global health
awards<http://www.globalhealth.org/conference/view_top.php3?id=737>
   .

---------------------------------------------------
PR:

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Laura Barnitz of Global Health Council, +1-202-833-5900, x3204.
lbarnitz at globalhealth.org

WASHINGTON, April 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global Health Council is
pleased to announce that the winner of the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for
Global Health and Human Rights is Dr. Binayak Sen of Raipur, Chhattisgarh,
India.

Sen, a physician who helped establish a hospital serving poor mine workers
in the region, is an officer of the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties
(PUCL), a leading human rights organization in India. He has been imprisoned
in Raipur for nearly a year without trial as a result of allegations that he
violated state antiterrorism laws. Sen denies committing any crime.

The Global Health Council and several prominent global health organizations
have issued a statement of support for Sen (See link below.), requesting
that Indian authorities assure the restoration of due process, and find the
means to allow the doctor to receive his award in person in
Washington, DCon May 29th, 2008, at the 35th Annual International
Conference on Global
Health.

This 58-year-old pediatrician was selected by an international jury of
public health professionals for this prestigious award because of his years
of service to poor and tribal communities in India, his effective leadership
in establishing self-sustaining health care services where none existed, and
his unwavering commitment to civil liberties and human rights. In addition
to working with the PUCL, Sen and his wife, Dr. Ilina Sen, are the founders
of Rupantar, a community-based nongovernmental organization that has
trained, deployed and monitored the work of community health workers spread
throughout 20 villages. Rupantars activities include initiatives to counter
alcohol abuse and violence against women, and to promote food security.

Dr. Sen's accomplishments speak volumes about what can be achieved in very
poor areas when health practitioners are also committed community leaders,
said Dr. Nils Daulaire, president of the Global Health Council. He staffed a
hospital created by and funded by impoverished mine workers, and he has
spent his lifetime educating people about health practices and civil
liberties -- providing information that has saved lives and improved
conditions for thousands of people. His good works need to be recognized as
a major contribution to India and to global health; they are certainly not a
threat to state security.

Large areas of Chhattisgarh are embroiled in an armed conflict involving
rebels, the state government and law enforcement, and armed civilian
militias. Sen was detained on May 14, 2007, and accused of passing notes
from a rebel leader he was treating in jail to someone outside the prison.
Sen denies committing any crime and says his activities in the jail were
supervised by prison authorities.

Many organizations and prominent persons have protested Sens arrest and his
long imprisonment without trial. He was recently released from a period of
solitary confinement and has reportedly suffered health problems resulting
from his nearly year-long imprisonment.

The Mann Award is presented annually at the Global Health Councils
international conference to a practitioner who makes significant
contributions toward practical work in the field and in difficult
circumstances; highlights the linkage of health with human rights; works
predominantly in developing countries and with marginalized people; and
demonstrates serious and long-term commitment.

For the Statement of Support on Behalf of Dr. Binayak Sen issued by global
health and human rights organizations, see *
http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/9833*<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/usnw/pl_usnw/storytext/jailed_indian_pediatrician_wins2008_jonathan_mann_award_for_global_health_and_human_rights/27180772/SIG=11fovtjg8/*http://www.globalhealth.org/news/article/9833>.

For information about the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human
Rights, see *http://www.globalhealth.org/conference/view_top.php3?id=746*<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/usnw/pl_usnw/storytext/jailed_indian_pediatrician_wins2008_jonathan_mann_award_for_global_health_and_human_rights/27180772/SIG=11tga01vf/*http://www.globalhealth.org/conference/view_top.php3?id=746>.

*The Global Health Council is the worlds largest membership alliance
dedicated to saving lives by improving health throughout the world. The
Council serves and represents public health organizations and professionals
working in more than 140 countries on six continents.
*www.globalhealth.org<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/usnw/pl_usnw/storytext/jailed_indian_pediatrician_wins2008_jonathan_mann_award_for_global_health_and_human_rights/27180772/SIG=10uvq762d/*http://www.globalhealth.org/>

Laura Barnitz, Global Health Council

202.833.5900, x3204 or
lbarnitz at globalhealth.org<http://us.f655.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=lbarnitz@globalhealth.org>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080421/pl_usnw/jailed_indian_pediatrician_wins2008_jonathan_mann_award_for_global_health_and_human_rights

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