The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, sometimes called "the Nobel Prize for human rights", was created in 1993 to honour and protect individuals around the world who demonstrate exceptional courage in defending and promoting human rights. Its principal aim is to provide special protection ("protective publicity") to human rights defenders who are at risk by focusing international media attention on their plight, mainly through internet, particularly in their country of origin.
The award carries a cash prize of 20,000 Swiss francs to be used by the award winners to support their work in the field of human rights.
The annual ceremony takes place in Geneva in October in association with the City of Geneva.
The award is named after Martin Ennals, past secretary general of Amnesty International.
An international jury, composed of representatives of ten human rights organizations, selects the award winner each year. Members of the Jury include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Federation of Human Rights, World Organisation Against Torture, Front Line Defenders, International Commission of Jurists, Human Rights First, International Service for Human Rights, Diakonie Germany, and Huridocs.