2010 John Humphrey Award Winner from Venezuela Travels to Calgary, Montreal
and Ottawa

MONTREAL, Nov. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - Marino Alvarado, Executive Director of Venezuela's PROVEA (Venezuelan Program for Education and Action in Human Rights), arrives in Canada next week to accept Rights & Democracy's 2010 John Humphrey Award and to speak with government officials, academics, activists, students, media, and the general public about human rights and democracy in Venezuela.

Mr. Alvarado will be in Montreal on November 29 and 30; in Calgary from December 1 to 3; and in Ottawa from December 6 to 8. He will accept the John Humphrey Award on behalf of PROVEA at an official ceremony on Tuesday, December 7, at the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, featuring live performances by Venezuela's folkloric dance group, Churun Meru, as well as Latin music by Sabrosa.

PROVEA is one of Venezuela's most respected, credible and effective human rights organizations due to its balanced, apolitical approach and rigorous research methodologies. Based in Caracas, PROVEA works under difficult political and economic conditions in a country where politics are highly polarized and human rights activists are often the targets of harsh criticism and intimidation for speaking out about human rights concerns.

Created in 1992, the John Humphrey Award is Canada's premier human rights award presented each year by Rights & Democracy. Named in honour of John Peters Humphrey, the Canadian law professor who prepared the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the award includes a $30,000 grant as well as a speaking tour of Canadian cities aimed at raising public awareness of the recipient's work in the field of human rights and democratic development.

For more information about PROVEA: http://www.derechos.org.ve/

For more information about the John Humphrey Award and Tour: http://www.dd-rd.ca/site/humphrey_award/index.php

Public Events and Media Opportunities
(RSVP: [email protected])

• December 2, Public Lecture at University of Calgary, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• December 7, John Humphrey Award Ceremony, Canadian Museum of Civilization, 5 to 7 p.m.
• December 2, Media Breakfast, Delta Bow Valley, Calgary, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
• December 7, Media Breakfast, Arc The Hotel, Ottawa, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

For further information:

To schedule an interview: Ms. Augie Van Biljouw, 1-514-442-1565, [email protected].