German peace prize goes to women in Turkey, Russia

Eren Keskin, a Turkish lawyer and human rights activist, and the Soldiers’ Mothers Organisation of St Petersburg in Russia will be given the prize at a ceremony in this western Germany city on September 1.

"If our prize can contribute something to protecting these people who are under constant personal threat, then we have achieved something," said Alfred Steinbicker, who presides the awarding committee.

The Soldiers’ Mothers Organisation (SMO) campaigns to uphold the human rights of soldiers in Russia, providing advice and support to them and their families. It has been particularly outspoken concerning the current war in separatist Chechnya, a conflict Moscow deems an "anti-terrorist" operation which has been raging since 1999.

The Aachen Peace Prize, worth 2,000 euros, was set up in 1988. Last year’s award winners were a Palestinian-born activist and a Jewish historian.