Democracy Activists Recognised
Jan Marinus Wiersma, a long-standing Dutch MEP, has been awarded in his
home country for services to European democracy. Mr Marinus Wiersma has
spent much of the last twenty years as an MEP actively supporting
Central and Eastern European nations as they build and maintain proper
democratic systems of governance. Indeed, his commitment continues to
this day, such that he had to accept his award in a film due to ongoing
business in Central Europe. The film reflected on Europe's democratic
transition over his time in office and can be viewed here. Also recognised was Kenyan human rights defender Njeri
Kabeberi for her outstanding efforts to reunite her country after the
division and violence that followed the 2008 general election. Read
more about her work here or view photos of the event in the EPD's gallery.