By Njodzeka Danhatu
The President of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa, CHRDA, Barrister Agbor Balla has won the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation Human Rights award.
The award announced recently by the foundation recognised the CHRDA’s President for his fights and Human Rights advocacy in the country.
Talking to reporters in Buea recently after hearing news of the award, Barrister Agbor Balla said it came at a special time when he was remembering his parents whom he said have contributed a lot in what he has become.
“It is an award that gives me the added impetus to continue doing what I am doing.” He said
Agbor Balla through his Centre, CHRDA has documented, reported and investigated human rights violations being committed as a result of the on-going conflict in the Two Anglophone Regions of Cameroon. These have made a target of ridiculed and insults from Separatists and Government Officials.
In 2016, he was arrested and jailed for eight months by the Cameroon government for championing for the Rights of the Anglophones the leadership of the Outlawed Anglophone Civil Society Consortium.
Aside from that, Barrister Balla has come under attacks from some Government Minister and some media houses in Cameroon for his outspokenness against the Human Rights atrocities in the country.
That is why the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation Human Rights Award according to Balla, “Shows resilient when you are convince in the rightness of what you are doing in spite of the trials, tribulations and difficulties.”
While expressing gratitude to the foundation for recognising him, he also encouraged other Civil and Human Rights Defenders to remain committed in their advocacy.
“I think also, it generally goes to the younger civil societies of Human Rights Defenders to understand that hard work pays. It might not be today but if you keep doing what you are doing, some day you will get the necessary recognition” he added.
Barrister Balla was awarded alongside another Human Right Defender, Maximilienne Ngo Mbe, who is the President of the Network of Human Rights Defenders in Central Africa – REDHAC
