Winners of the Freedom of Expression Awards 2011

The winners of the 11th Annual Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards were announced on Thursday 24 March at a ceremony hosted by Index on Censorship Chair Jonathan Dimbleby in London. The Awards honour those battling censorship, or bringing to light stories that would otherwise be forgotten. Index is Britain’s leading organisation promoting freedom of expression.

Bindmans LLP is delighted to continue its support of Index on Censorship (Index) at this year’s annual Freedom of Expression Awards through the sponsorship of the Bindman’s Law and Campaigning Award.

The recipient for this Award for 2011 was the highly deserving Gao Zhisheng, Chinese rights lawyer who was being recognized for his work in representing vulnerable, and persecuted groups. Gao Zhisheng was unable to attend and his wife, Geng He, accepted the award on his behalf, via video. She said: 'I wish Gao Zhisheng could receive this award, instead of me accepting on his behalf.'

The other nominees were David Coombs, the criminal defence lawyer leading the defence of Specialist Bradley Manning, the 23-year-old accused of leaking classified material to WikiLeaks; and Sherry Rehman, a member of Pakistan’s parliament who submitted a bill proposing amendments to Pakistan’s blasphemy law. Details here

The Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award aims to recognise lawyers and campaigners who have fought repression or who have struggled to change political climates and perceptions, especially those who have used or established legal means to fight injustice in the field of freedom of expression. It is a subject particularly close to Bindmans with our 35 year history of promoting civil liberties and defending human rights.

The recipients of the other Freedom of Expression Award categories for 2011 were:

• Index on Censorship New Media Award, supported by Google
  TuniLeaks by Nawaat
• The Guardian Journalism Award
  Ibrahim Eissa
• The Intelligent Life Arts Award
  MF Husain
• Special Commendation
  Belarus’s prisoners

Bindmans' partner Alison Stanley says: "Those nominated for the awards were inspirational and humbling: all of them deserved recognition for their extraordinary bravery in the cause of freedom of expression."