On May 19, 2024, UNANIMA International’s Executive Director, Jean Quinn, presented the 2022 Woman of Courage Award to Helena Maleno Garzon in Madrid.
Helena is a researcher, journalist, and activist who stands up for the rights of migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and victims of human trafficking who attempt to reach Europe by sea and land. In her reporting she has denounced human rights violations on the Spanish Southern Border and works with migrant communities in defense of their rights.
In 2002 Helena founded Ca-minando Fronteras (Walking Borders), an organization that rescues sea vessels carrying migrants that are in danger of sinking and provides support for them once they arrive in Europe. It is estimated that she has saved at least ten thousand lives through her work relaying the locations of sinking sea vessels to Spanish naval authorities. Ca-minando Fronteras also works to reunite families by gathering information about those that are missing or have disappeared during their journey across the sea. Helena continues to do this work despite ongoing judicial harassment and threats from the governments of Morocco and Spain, who have criminalized her efforts.
To read more about this wonderful event, click here
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