Martin
Ennals was a British human rights activist who helped to define the modern human
rights movement. He served as the first Secretary-General of Amnesty International,
starting in 1968 until 1980, helping it grow from a fledgling effort to one of
the world's largest global human rights organizations. After leaving Amnesty International,
Martin Ennals was instrumental in organizing several other human rights organizations
-- HURIDOCS, SOS Torture (World Organisation Against Torture), Defence for Children
International, Article 19, and International Alert. After he died, a number of
the world's leading human rights organizations collaborated to create the Martin
Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders, which is given each year to one who has
"demonstrated an
exceptional record of combating human rights violations by courageous and innovative
means."
