Survivors Speak OUT congratulate William Hague MP who was awarded the Diefenbaker Award

Survivors Speak OUT message of congratulations to the Rt Hon William Hague MP on the presentation of the Diefenbaker Award by the Hon. John Baird, Canadian Foreign Minister:

Kolbassia Haoussou is the co-ordinator of Survivors Speak OUT, the network of former Freedom from Torture clients, who have worked with William Hague and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, on the development of the International Protocol on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

On the presentation of Mr Hague's award, a Canadian Government award for human rights and peace work, Mr Haoussou said:

"The members of Survivors Speak OUT would like to offer their sincere congratulations to Mr Hague on his prestigious award from the Canadian Government. Mr Hague has helped lead the way on making the prevention of sexual violence in conflict one of the top issues of our times, but more than that - he has led the way in listening to the survivors.

So often the survivors of rape as torture and sexual violence feel that they have no voice, that they will be ignored by those in power and this is why many continue feeling helpless about holding their torturers to account. In listening to the voices of survivors of human rights violations and giving them a voice in the solution Mr Hague has given them hope and set an example for all politicians and leaders to follow.

We know that Mr Hague will carry on being a champion for survivors and Survivors Speak OUT looks forward to continuing its collaboration with him. However, it is absolutely essential that the UK Government and Governments and leaders around the world learn the vital lesson from his work – that to help ."