Madiba awarded Amnesty International's highest honour

Staff reporter
27 September 2006

Former president Nelson Mandela has been awarded the Ambassador of Conscience Award by Amnesty International.

This is the highest honour awarded by the human rights watchdog.

Art for Amnesty founder and organiser of the annual award, Bill Shipsey, said that "More than any other living person, Nelson Mandela has come to symbolise all that is hopeful and idealistic in public life."

Amnesty said it was bestowing the award on Mandela in recognition of his fearless championing of freedom and justice around the world, as well as his advocacy of the rights of millions of people with HIV/AIDS in Africa and beyond.

Eighty-eight-year-old Madiba will be presented with the award in Johannesburg on November 1.