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John Humphrey Freedom Award laureates begin tour of five Canadian cities

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News Release

MONTREAL, Dec. 1, 2003 - Few family tragedies compare to the abduction and disappearance of a loved one without a trace. For Peru's Angélica Mendoza de Ascarza and Colombia's Martha Cecilia Domicó, the terrible uncertainty that accompanies such forced disappearances is something they know all too well.

Starting Dec. 1st in Vancouver, Ms. Mendoza de Ascarza and Ms. Domicó will share their stories with Canadians in five cities as part of Rights & Democracy's 2003 John Humphrey Freedom Award tour.

Ms. Mendoza de Ascarza and Martha Cecilia's father, Kimy Pern?a Domic?, are the joint recipients of the Montreal-based human rights organization's annual $25,000 award. Martha Cecilia has been invited to represent her father, who was abducted and disappeared in Colombia in June, 2001.

Ms. Mendoza de Ascarza and Mr. Pern?a Domic? are two indigenous representatives who have shown exemplary courage and perseverance in their individual struggles against injustice. Since the abduction and disappearance of her 19-year-old son, Arquimedes, in 1983, Ms. Mendoza de Ascarza has led a tireless campaign to uncover his fate and that of thousands of other victims of Peru's 30-year civil war. Ms. Mendoza de Ascarza's work was recognized recently by Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, before which she testified.

Mr. Pern?a Domic? is a respected leader of the Embera-Katio people of Colombia's Cordoba province. Mr. Pern?a Domic? helped lead his people in their international campaign against the construction of the Urr? 1 hydroelectric dam, a mega-project partly funded by Canadian investment and a serious threat to the survival of the Embera-Katio. Mr. Pern?a Domic?'s efforts led him to Canada on numerous occasions, including the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in April, 2001. He was abducted two months later in Colombia.

The John Humphrey Freedom Award is Rights & Democracy's annual celebration of outstanding contributions to the defence of human rights. Previous John Humphrey Award winners include Nigeria's Ayesha Imam, Dr. Sima Samar of Afghanistan and Dr. Cynthia Maung and Min Ko Naing of Burma.

The 2003 John Humphrey Freedom Award Tour will be in Vancouver (Dec. 1/2), Edmonton (Dec. 3), Toronto (Dec 4-6), Montreal (Dec. 7/8) and Ottawa (Dec. 9-11). The official Award ceremony will take place on December 9, 2003, at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau (Quebec).