A memorial celebration of Eric Avebury’s life and work, organised by his family, was held on 30 June. Lord Avebury was founder and the initial Chair of the PHRG, and a Vice-Chair until his death at the age of 87 on 14 February 2016.

Current PHRG Chair, Ann Clwyd MP, and PHRG Honorary Officer, Jeremy Corbyn MP spoke at the memorial.

Below is an extract of the speech given by Ann Clwyd MP (see the full speech here).

 

 

Ann Clwyd MP’s Speech for Lord Eric Avebury’s Memorial

I am honoured to be addressing the assembled audience of family, friends and colleagues today – to remember and pay tribute to the late Lord Eric Avebury – for his dedication to human rights, including his commitment to the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group – one of the most long-standing and active Parliamentary Groups, set up by Eric in 1976 – and the many other Parliamentary groups of which he was a member.

I knew Eric Avebury for over thirty years – both as a colleague and a friend – and greatly admired his unwavering commitment to human rights and his bravery.

Eric was first and foremost a human rights champion – with a distinguished record of campaigning tirelessly on a wide range of human rights causes.

Eric truly believed that the human rights of each and every person is important – and was particularly keen to defend the rights of victims who were not receiving the attention they deserved, and causes that were often not very popular, and even considered controversial. And his devotion was steadfast – through the ups and downs, the triumphs and the set-backs, over many, many years.

The number of speakers involved in his memorial today is a testament to the support he provided to so many from the UK and across the world.  I am sure many others have recollections they too want to share.

Just last week the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (the PHRG) met with a group from the Chittagong Hill Tracts in Bangladesh, and an NGO representative working on behalf of tribal peoples. They both expressed their gratitude for Eric’s enduring and tireless commitment to raising the plight of victims of serious and systematic human rights violations, about which many people remain ignorant or indifferent. They greatly lamented his loss.

In addition to these international issues, Eric campaigned for the Kurds in Turkey, the Acehnese in Indonesia, the Karen in Burma/Myanmar, the Dalits in India, the Falun Gong in China, the Baha’is in Iran, the displaced Chagos Islanders battling against the British Government to return to their homeland, religious minorities in Pakistan – I could go on and on – and many other campaigns are detailed in the lovely book of remembrance prepared for this Memorial event.

He also had the foresight to bring like-minded Parliamentarians together, to ensure that people facing injustice, persecution and discrimination had others to whom they could turn.

Eric realised that the more Parliamentarians use the Parliamentary platform for the greater good – to give a voice to those who have none – the better.  And as Parliamentarians in the UK, able to express our views without the fear of persecution, harassment, torture or death, Eric believed, as I do, that we have a duty to stand up for those who do not enjoy that privilege.

Though he can never be replaced, I believe that the best way to ensure his legacy lives on, is to ensure we take on his mantle – and continue working together to make fundamental human rights a reality for many more across the world.