The Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Philippines, Marielle Geraedts, conferred the Embassy Tulip Award on the MUJER-LGBT Organization, recognizing its outstanding work in advancing the welfare and rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in Mindanao.
The award was presented during a special reception marking International Human Rights Day on December 10 at the Ambassador’s residence. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, government partners, and civil society organizations.
Support for human rights defenders is a core priority of the Netherlands. Each year, the Dutch government honors outstanding and courageous individuals and organizations who promote and protect human rights in challenging contexts through the global Human Rights Tulip Award. In parallel, select Dutch embassies bestow the Embassy Tulip Award on local human rights defenders whose work reflects resilience and innovation in their communities and partnerships.
Since its introduction in the Philippines in 2021, the Embassy Tulip Award has recognized individuals and organizations making tangible contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights at the community level.
At the ceremony, Ambassador Geraedts underscored the courage and risks often faced by human rights defenders. “Today, we honor that work. We recognize the courage behind it. And we acknowledge the essential role that human rights defenders play in building societies where rights are lived and upheld,” she said. “The Netherlands stands firmly beside them and today’s ceremony is a celebration of that solidarity.”
Based in Zamboanga City, MUJER LGBT Organization is a Mindanao-based human rights group dedicated to providing assistance and advancing the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community in the Philippines. For nearly a decade, the organization has championed equality, inclusion, access to justice, and sexual and reproductive health rights in grassroots communities.
Receiving the award on behalf of MUJER was its Executive Director Toni Gee Fernandez, who said, “this award strengthens our commitment to build safer spaces, to stand with marginalized communities, to push for policies that protect everyone, and to continue our human rights caravan until every young person, regardless of their identity, can live without fear.”
“What truly distinguishes this organization is its courage,” said Ambassador Geraedts. She noted that despite the security risks and threats they have faced because of their work, MUJER members continue to stand firm and embody a deep commitment to human rights values.
The Ambassador also reaffirmed the Netherlands’ long-standing commitment to human rights, stressing that while no country is perfect, the defense of human rights remains a core value. The Embassy Tulip Award not only honors MUJER’s achievements but also seeks to amplify its work, encourage broader support from partners and institutions, and highlight community-led, rights-based approaches as powerful drivers of change.
In addition to the Embassy Tulip Award trophy and certificate, MUJER LGBT+ received a financial contribution to support a project advancing its human rights advocacy.