The Business and Human Rights Award Foundation has named Oil Workers’ Rights Protection Organization (OWRPO), based in Azerbaijan, as the recipient of the 2022 Human Rights and Business Award. The award recognizes outstanding work by human rights defenders addressing the human rights impacts of business and is accompanied by a $50,000 grant.

OWRPO, founded in 1996 by a group of oil workers, addresses the human rights impacts of oil and gas companies in Azerbaijan. It defends the rights of oil and gas industry workers and seeks public monitoring of large-scale oil and gas projects. It also works for transparent and fair spending of oil and gas revenues for the benefit of society, calling for more to be invested in Azerbaijan’s “human capital” (including education and health).

Mirvari Gahramanli, OWRPO’s Founder & Chairperson, said: “Thank you for the award on behalf of OWRPO, and on behalf of the thousands of people we have defended during our 26 years of activity. The award will help us expand our work protecting the rights of oil workers and encouraging civil society oversight of the country’s energy sector.”