The Rafto Prize was awarded today to Thic Quang Do, the deputy leader of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam.The executive committee of the Rafto Foundation based their decision on his efforts to defend democracy, freedom of religion and human rights in Vietnam.

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented from New York: “This prestigious prize has previously been awarded to active human rights campaigners such as Rebiya Kadeer, Aung San Suu Kui and Shirin Ebadi. I am delighted at the committee’s decision to award this year’s prize to Thic Quang Do.”

Press contact: Adviser Bjørn S. Jahnsen, tel.: +47 22 24 38 27, mob.: +47 97 16 48 43, email: bj@mfa.no