An American nun who was murdered in 2005 while working to defend the rights of poor farmers in the Amazon region of Brazil has been posthumously awarded a prestigious UN human rights prize.Sr Dorothy Stang, who was a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur, was one of seven recipients of the UN Prize in the Field of Human Rights, which are awarded by the General Assembly every five years.
The awards were presented at a ceremony in New York on International Human Rights Day, December 10, to mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Sr Dorothy's brother, David Stang, represented her family at the ceremony, and Sr Jane Burke, who represents the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at the United Nations, accepted the prize on behalf of the order.
The order expressed gratitude that Sr Dorothy was being honoured with the award.
"Through her life and teaching, many people learned to appreciate and claim their human rights," the statement said.
"Since her martyrdom, Dorothy's message, service and convictions resound around the world, drawing attention to the circumstances in the Brazilian Amazon."
A UN announcement said the prize "is an opportunity not only to give public recognition to the achievements of the recipients themselves, but also to send a clear message to human rights defenders the world over that the international community is grateful for, and supports, their tireless efforts to promote human rights for all".
Sr Dorothy's death sparked an international outcry. She was killed on February 12, 2005, in Anapu, a remote community in the Amazon region. She was shot several times in the chest and head. She was 73 years old.
For nearly four decades, the nun, who was a naturalised Brazilian citizen, worked in rural Brazil, defending the rights of poor peasants. This fight made her many enemies, including some wealthy landowners.
Shortly before her death, the town of Anapu declared her persona non grata, stating her work was hindering the region's development.
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