Doctor Honoris Causa 2018
VUB and ULB jointly award an honorary doctorate to two human rights activists.
The ULB and the VUB will celebrate their common values, in particular, those related to freedom of speech and opinion, free thinking and the defence of human rights, by jointly handing over the insignia of an Honorary Degree to famous activists who have dedicated their lives to defend these values.
The VUB and the ULB are honoured to, together, symbolically reward the fight of these two personalities who have paid a heavy tribute to their struggle for the defence of rights and freedoms, including their pursuit of justice for all, including the most marginalised.
Sihem Bensedrine: from Tunisia, ex-journalist, human rights defender who was imprisoned under the Ben Ali regime and who is now the President of the Truth and Dignity Committee. She came back to Tunisia in 2011 after several years of exile.
Pierre Claver Mbonimpa: from Burundi, human rights defender and a pioneer in the fight against torture. He has been imprisoned several times in his country. Victim of an assassination attempt in 2015, he now lives in Belgium.
SIHEM BENSEDRINE
Sihem Bensedrine (born 1955) is a Tunisian journalist, human rights activist, and political figure. She is a prominent advocate for freedom of expression and women's rights in Tunisia.
Bensedrine began her career as a journalist in the 1980s, working for several Tunisian newspapers and magazines. In the 1990s, she became involved in human rights activism and co-founded the National Council for Liberties (CNLT), a non-governmental organization that fought against censorship and repression in Tunisia.
In 2001, Bensedrine was arrested and imprisoned for her activism, but was later released following international pressure. She continued her work as a journalist and human rights activist, and played a key role in the Tunisian Revolution of 2011, which led to the overthrow of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Following the revolution, Bensedrine was appointed by the interim government to head the country's newly-created Truth and Dignity Commission, which investigated human rights violations committed during the Ben Ali regime. She has also served as a member of Tunisia's Constituent Assembly, where she worked on drafting the country's new constitution.
Bensedrine has received numerous awards for her activism and journalism, including the 2011 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. She continues to be a prominent voice for human rights and democracy in Tunisia.
PIERRE CLAVER MBONIMPA
Pierre Claver Mbonimpa (born 1950) is a Burundian human rights activist known for his work advocating for democracy, human rights, and social justice in Burundi.
Mbonimpa began his career as a teacher, but later became involved in human rights activism, serving as the President of the Burundian Association for the Protection of Human Rights and Detained Persons (APRODH) from 1993 to 2014. He has also been involved in various other human rights organizations in Burundi and across Africa.
Throughout his career, Mbonimpa has faced significant harassment and persecution for his activism, including imprisonment, physical assault, and the murder of his son in 2015. Despite these challenges, he has continued to speak out against human rights abuses in Burundi, including the government's crackdown on political opposition and civil society.
Mbonimpa has received numerous international awards and recognitions for his human rights work, including the 2015 Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders and the 2016 African Union Human Rights Prize. He continues to be a leading voice for democracy and human rights in Burundi, despite ongoing threats to his safety and security.
Pierre Claver Mbonimpa now lives in Belgium.
Honorary Title Difference Day 2018
DAPHNE CARUANA GALIZIA AND FAMILY
Daphne Caruana Galizia (1964-2017) was a Maltese investigative journalist and blogger known for her fearless reporting on corruption and organized crime in Malta. She started her career as a journalist in the 1980s, working for several local newspapers before becoming a freelance journalist and blogger in the 2000s.
She gained international attention for her reporting on the Panama Papers, which revealed how wealthy individuals and public officials used offshore tax havens to hide their wealth. She also reported on several high-profile cases of corruption in Malta, including the sale of Maltese passports to wealthy foreigners, and alleged links between Maltese politicians and organized crime.
Caruana Galizia's reporting was often critical of the Maltese government and its leaders, and she faced significant harassment and intimidation as a result. In October 2017, she was killed in a car bomb attack near her home in Bidnija, Malta. Her death sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice, and three men were eventually charged with her murder. The case is ongoing as of 2023. Caruana Galizia's legacy as a courageous and dedicated investigative journalist has inspired many in Malta and around the world to continue fighting for press freedom and accountability.