A Chinese lawyer detained since 2018 for his activism in support of the rule of law, democracy and governmental reform has won a major human rights award.
Yu Wensheng was named the 2021 Martin Ennals Award Laureate at a ceremony conducted virtually in Geneva, Switzerland.
The award honours individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage in the promotion and defence of human rights around the world.
Mr Yu was detained in January 2018 after defending other human rights lawyers arrested in a crackdown against activism in China.
The 54 year old is serving a four-year sentence after being convicted at a secret trial in 2020 for "inciting subversion" and has had his legal licence revoked.
His wife, Xu Yan, said the award will serve as an important support for her husband, who is being held in solitary confinement at an unknown location in China.
"Thank you for your encouragement and empowerment to Yu Wensheng," she said in a speech at the ceremony.
Ms Xu said the award - officially called Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders - is not only an honour for her husband, but will act as encouragement for all Chinese human rights lawyers and defenders who persist in their work, despite fear of persecution.
"His proposal to amend the constitution and promote a reform in the political system [in China] was the main reason for his arrest," she said.
"Now, human rights defenders don't dare to speak up any longer."
"My speech aims to encourage people to speak up again, to encourage lawyers to represent cases, and NGO workers to promote public welfare."
Mr Yu beat two other finalists to win the 2021 award: Saudi Arabia’s Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent women's rights activist released on Wednesday after spending almost three years in prison, and Turkmenistan’s Soltan Achilova, an investigative independent photojournalist and reporter in a country without media freedom.
The winner was selected by a jury of 10 global human rights organisations, including the Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
The jury praised all three nominees as outstanding human rights defenders "despite the many attempts to silence them by their authoritarian governments".
"On the eve of the Chinese New Year, we hope this recognition of Yu Wensheng’s work will shine a light on his achievements and help him regain the freedom he has lost," said Philippe Currat, president of the board of the Martin Ennals Foundation.
The annual Martin Ennals Awards are named after a Nobel Peace Prize-winning British human rights activist and former secretary-general of Amnesty International.
