Helen Mack

Helen Mack "is the founder of Guatemala's Myrna Mack Foundation, which she formed in her quest for justice for the brutal murder of her sister Myrna Mack and for the thousands of other citizens who lost their lives at the hands of the military.

"Since the Myrna Mack Foundation's establishment in 1993, Helen Mack has succeeded in making significant progress in the fight for human rights, reform of the judiciary system and fortification of the rule of law. In addition, she obtained the conviction of one the soldiers accused of committing the crime-and several years later, the conviction of one of the three officers accused of masterminding Myrna Mack's murder.

""Ms. Mack is a symbol of the impact one courageous person can have in the political process," said Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., president emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, who was a member of the prize committee. "Since her sister, Myrna Mack, was brutally murdered by members of the military, she has become an unlikely champion for human rights and justice in a country where that can be a hazardous occupation."

"As part of the Prize, Mack was awarded $10,000, with a matching amount donated to the Myrna Mack Foundation. Dr. José García Noval, vice president of the Myrna Mack Foundation, accepted the matching cash award on behalf of the Foundation.

"Mack is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Swedish Parliament's Right Livelihood Award, known as an "alternative Nobel Prize.""


 * Director, Fund for Global Human Rights
 * Attendee, Human Rights First: Human Rights Awards Dinner
 * Winner of the 2005 Notre Dame Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America
 * International Advisory Board, International Journal of Transitional Justice