Dear [Press Release] Thursday 22 April 2010

Indian Human Rights Defender Ajeet Singh nominated for International Award
Dublin, Ireland.

Human rights defender and president of Guria, Ajeet Singh was yesterday announced as one of five
nominees for the 6th Annual Front Line Award for Human Rights Defenders at risk.

The Front Line Award is presented to a human rights defender who has made an outstanding
contribution to the cause of human rights at great personal risk. The recipient is selected by a panel of
Irish elected representatives from both the Irish National Parliament and the European Parliament.
Front Line, who organizes the award, is an Irish-based international NGO that exists to provide
protection to human rights defenders.

At an event held yesterday beside parliament buildings in Dublin, a cross-party panel of Irish elected
representatives announced the nominees for the prestigious international award. Mr. Simon Coveney
T.D., a member of parliament, presented the case for Mr. Ajeet Singh’s nomination.

Mr. Coveney referred to Mr. Singh as an “inspirational and courageous man” and praised hir
dedication to the advancement of human rights and also his courage in continuing his work despite
great personal risk.

Simon Coveney testified to Mr. Singh’s strength and fortitude before an audience of journalists,
diplomats and politicians. Mr. Coveney spoke of Mr. Singh’s work as a human rights defender tackling
the issues of human trafficking and forced prostitution. Mr. Singh is the founder and president of Guria,
a human rights organization that works to prevent the trafficking of women and girls for sex slavery, as
well as to free those already in forced prostitution. The organisation also works to rehabilitate girls and
women who have escaped these situations.

Mr. Singh, from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, is also a member of the Central Advisory Council on
combating child prostitution and trafficking of women and children, and of the State Monitoring
Committee for the abolition of child prostitution and the exploitation of women.

As a consequence of his work in defense of the human rights of others Mr. Singh has been targeted
and threatened by opponents. He has been followed, watched and harassed. His life has been
threatened by police and criminals, he has been slandered and accused in the press and Guria’s
premises have been attacked and his staff threatened. He fears for his safety and for the safety of his
family and colleagues. The source of the danger is clear; traffickers, pimps and corrupt officials work
together to discredit Mr. Singh and his work.

www.frontlinedefenders.org
Front Line Director , Mary Lawlor said of Mr. Singh; “Ajeet has been selected as a nominee because of
the tremendous work he carries out on behalf of other people. He displays exceptional courage in the
face of threats intimidation and the great personal danger. Every day he puts her life on the line in
defence of rights that we take for granted”

The other nominees include Dr. Soraya Sobhrang from Afghanistan, Pelagia Razemba from
Zimbabwe, Lucha Castro from Mexico and Aminatou Haidar from Western Sahara.

[ENDS]

For further information please contact:

Jim Loughran, Head of Media and Communications 087 9377586

jim@frontlinedefenders.org

Conor McGuinness, Media and Communications Dept. 087 9345603

media@frontlinedefenders.org

www.frontlinedefenders.org