The Vice President of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), Gustavo Parajon, has been named as the 2006 recipient of the prestigious Baptist World Alliance Human Rights Award.

Parajon, who is also a medical doctor and clergyman, will receive the award, which was previously only handed out once every five years, but has now been made an annual award following a vote at the BWA Centenary Congress held in July 2005 in Birmingham, England.

The award is given in recognition of “significant and effective activities to secure, protect, restore or preserve human rights,” and is set to be handed out at the General Council/Annual Gathering of the BWA, held 3-8 July this year in Mexico City.

As a recognised figure in relief and development work, Dr Parajon has a reputation as a leading Nicaraguan evangelical, and is praised for his contributions to the evangelical movements and Baptist witness in his country.