Human Rights Activist to be Honoured by Cork University

Pat Rice, a leading human rights activist based in Argentina, is set to receive an honorary conferring from University College Cork on Friday, June 6th. The traditional ceremony honours individuals who have distinguished themselves nationally or internationally through their scholarship, creativity, public service or contribution to social,cultural or economic life.

A native of Fermoy, Co Cork, Pat Rice has worked in Latin America since the early 1970s where he is known as a leading worker in the area of human rights and a specialist observer annually at the UN in Geneva. In 1976 he was kidnapped by the Argentine military with his future wife, taken to a clandestine prison where he was interrogated and tortured.

Pat and his wife, Fatima, are co-founders of FEDEFAM, an organisation representing the families of the disappeared in the Caribbean, Central America and Latin America.

Four other leading figures in the world of education, health, philanthropy and human rights will also be honoured by the National University of Ireland.

Dr Patrick Fottrell, a native of Youghal, Co Cork, is Chairman of Science Foundation Ireland and the Research Board of St Vincent's University Hospital. Dr Fottrell received the Conway Medal from Ireland's Royal Academy of Medicine.

Niall, Mellon, an Irish based philanthropist and founder of The Niall Mellon Township Challenge which provides accommodation for the disadvantaged in South Africa. This charity has become one of the world's largest house building charities and in 2007 was responsible for building some 5,000 houses. Mr. Mellon's efforts has earned him praise from many quarters including Nelson Mandella and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Dr Michael Hyland, Consultant Geriatrician, is currently Chairman of the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Cork Teaching Hospitals and a leading authority on geriatric medicine nationally and internationally

Professor Samantha Power, Irish American journalist, writer and academic, holds a Chair in Human Rights in Harvard. From 1993 to 1996 she covered the wars in former Yugoslavia as a reporter for US News and World Report, the Boston Globe and The New Republic. Power is the editor, with Graham Allison, of Realising Human Rights: Moving from Inspiration to Impact.