Press release
Ahmedabad, Oct 13: The National Commission for Minorities of the Government of India has decided to confer the "Minorities Rights Award 2006" on Fr. Cedric Prakash sj, director, "Prashant", the Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace.
In a message to Fr. Prakash, Commission chairperson M H Ansari states : "The National Commission for Minorities, a statutory body functioning under an Act of Parliament, celebrates December 18 every year as Minorities Rights Day. It confers on that occasion the Minorities Rights Award on an individual who has rendered outstanding contribution to the protection of minority rights. I am happy to inform you that the National Commission for Minorities has taken cognizance of your work in the field of minorities rights and has decided to confer the Minorities Rights Award 2006 on you."
The award will be conferred on Fr Prakash at a function to be held in Delhi on December 18, 2006, which is the anniversary on which the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.
Fr Prakash has been championing the cause of the minorities in Gujarat and in other parts of India. His very visible stand in defence of the victims of the Gujarat Carnage of 2002, brought world-wide attention to their plight. He also testified before the US Commission for International Religious Freedom in Washington. Fr. Prakash has always been in the forefront whenever minorities have been attacked and has been a strong opponent of the controversial Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, which he describes, is violative of the fundamental human rights of a citizen.
On July 14, 2006, the Government of France decorated Fr Prakash with its highest civilian honour, the "Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur" for his lifetime commitment to human rights. In 2003, the Indian Muslim Council, USA presented him with the "Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award" for Humanitarian Work and in 1995, the President of India conferred on him the "Kabir Puraskar" for his work in the promotion of Communal Harmony and Peace.
Among his numerous responsibilities, Fr Prakash is also the Secretary of the Commission for Social Communications of the Western Region Catholic Bishops Council.