'Akilisi Pohiva receives Defender of Democracy Award [1]
Tuesday, December 17, 2013 - 21:30. Updated on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - 21:21.
'Akilisi Pohiva, the People's Representative No. 1 for Tongatapu received the Defender of Democracy Award 2013 from the Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) on 8 December in Bogota, Colombia.
PGA stated it honoured Pohiva for his distinguished work in the Tongan Parliament and for establishing the Human Rights and Democracy Movement and Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands.
The PGA also awarded the Defender of Democracy Award 2013 to Dr Noor Jehan Panezai and Hon. Naveed Qamar, two Pakistan parliamentarians.
'Akilisi received his award from Bogota's Mayor Gustavo Petro at a ceremony held at the Salon Huitaka, City Hall. The occasion was held in conjunction with PGA’s 35th Annual Parliamentary Forum.
The Defender of Democracy Award is presented to individuals who, through their own commitment and active engagement, have made significant progress in strengthening democracy and democratic practices.
Tonga Parliament stated that Lord Nuku a Noble's Representative, 'Isileli Pulu People's Representative No. 3 for Tongatapu and the Minister of Police Hon. Sifa Tu'utafaiva accompanied the MP to Bogota.
PGA is non-profit, non-partisan international network of over 1000 legislators from about 130 parliaments around the world. PGA promotes peace, democracy, rule of law, human rights, sustainable development and population issues by informing, convening, and mobilizing parliamentarians to realize these goals.
It's head office is at the United Nations Headquarter in New York, USA.