Reforming society through law and knowledge
This year, for the first time, three grassroots non-profit organizations received the Tang Prize.
Established in 1992, the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association took an innovative approach to the Bangladeshi constitution that enabled them to form a link between environmental pollution and the wellbeing of the nation’s people. In doing so, BELA achieved an important breakthrough regarding the past interpretation of litigation in Bangladeshi courts. Ever since its first successful public-interest case in 1994, BELA has initiated more than 300 pieces of public-interest environmental litigation as well as various other legislative reforms.
Founded in 2005 and based in Colombia, Dejusticia: The Center for Law, Justice and Society firmly believes that academic research can substantively contribute to social justice and lead to social reform. In 2018, Dejusticia won a lawsuit calling on the Colombian government to protect and conserve the Amazon, marking the first such verdict in Latin America.
The third recipient of the prize was The Legal Agenda, from Lebanon. Established in 2009, the organization has fought for major legal rulings to protect the rights of migrant workers, refugees, LGBT groups, and others. The Legal Agenda is not only a pioneer in advocating for such rights, it is also constantly seeking to expand awareness of these topics to other Arab countries, and has set up a branch in Tunisia.
Tang Prize Foundation CEO Chern Jenn-chuan notes that with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, many NGOs are facing financial difficulties, especially as they receive less in donations than before. The award money from the Tang Prize seeks not only to show concern for these countries, but also to become a force that encourages NGOs on the front lines to keep pushing forward.
Jane Goodall’s wildlife conservation achievements were showcased in an exhibit outside the Tang Prize Masters’ Forum for Sustainable Development at National Tsing Hua University. (photo by Lin Min-hsuan)