Nurses recognised for their human rights efforts

Nurses from Ukraine and Italy have been revealed as this year’s winners of a prestigious award which recognises the contribution that nurses make to human rights around the world.

Ruggero Rizzini, a nurse from Pavia in northern Italy, and nurses from the community mental health teams in Ukraine were recipients of the 2023 Human Rights and Nursing Awards and a prize of around £15,000 each.

Each year the Nursing Ethics journal presents the awards to two nurses or nursing teams in recognition of their outstanding commitment to human rights in health and care.

“The recipients this year are exemplary role models for nurses and other health and social care professionals"

- Ann Gallagher

Mr Ruzzini was given the award in recognition of the “exceptional contribution” he has made to the development of health and social care in Pavia and Guatemala, Central America.

Judges said he had “worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the needs of the most vulnerable”, as well as opening facilities to promote the wellbeing of those experiencing extreme hardship in the countries.

Mr Ruzzini said: “Receiving this important award is an honour because it means recognising the work we have been doing for 25 years in Guatemala and Pavia.

“The award will be entirely invested in the projects that we are carrying out in Guatemala in the Santa Gertrudis slum to continue to help from a health and nursing point of view as we have been doing for several years.

“This award makes the difference because it stimulates me to continue what I'm doing while continuing to be available to the population.”

Meanwhile 32 nurses from the community mental health teams in Ukraine were given the human rights award in recognition of the role they have played in developing mental health services in the country.

Judges commended the new ways of working they had adopted as the war in Ukraine continues, which they said had been “characterised by a great commitment to patients, resilience, courage and resourcefulness”.

Rob Keukens, who collected the award on behalf of the teams in Ukraine, said: “It is, as one of the nurses said, the greatest challenge, even if you are no longer sure what life is and what meaning it has, to remain human.

“This award is a tremendous sign of recognition and solidarity.

“It gives the nurses the strength to continue on their chosen path.”

The award ceremony took place this year at the 23rd International Nursing Ethics Conference, held on 14 and 15 July at the University of Genoa in Italy.

The conference, which was also supported by Brunel University London, has now celebrated three decades of the international Nursing Ethics journal.

Professor Ann Gallagher, head of the department of health sciences at Brunel University London and editor-in-chief of Nursing Ethics, said: “These awards are a highlight of our annual conference, reminding us of the significant difference made to patients, families and communities, often in the most challenging of circumstances.

“The recipients this year are exemplary role models for nurses and other health and social care professionals, demonstrating leadership, courage and commitment which contributes to the best possible care.”