CHENNAI: Founder of People’s Watch, 59-year-old advocate Henri Tiphagne became the first Indian recipient of the prestigious Amnesty International Germany’s Human Rights Award on April 25.
The Madurai-based activist received the award at the Maxim Gorki Theatre in Berlin. He is slated to return to India on May 4.
Henri Tiphagne has been researching on human rights violations for over 25 years. He has also been instrumental in highlighting the violations of human rights all over India and changing the lives of many children through his activism.
Started in 1990, his NGO People’s Watch was aimed at establishing a society without any caste-based discrimination.
Amnesty International, in a statement, released on the occasion of Henri Tiphange having been conferred the coveted honour, said that Henri Tiphagne through his organisation the Peopl’s Watch had changed the lives of nearly five lakh children across 18 states in the country.
The Human Rights Award is presented by Amnesty Germany every two years to individuals or organizations in recognition of their steadfast campaign in support of human rights under difficult conditions.