Tim Whyte
Secretary-General at ActionAid Denmark Receives Human Act Award 2024
Human Act awards its prize, the Human Act Award 2024, to Tim Whyte, Secretary-General at ActionAid Denmark, for his efforts in promoting global solidarity and justice.
This year, the award goes to Tim Whyte in recognition of his efforts to promote global solidarity and fight for justice in connection with the war between Israel and Palestine.
— Tim receives this year’s Human Act Award for his exceptional dedication in his role as Secretary-General for ActionAid Denmark and his courageous stance against the Danish state. His tireless efforts for global solidarity and the fight for justice mean he deserves this recognition, says Djaffar Shalchi, founder of Human Act.
The Fight for Peace and Justice
Human Act especially recognizes Tim Whyte’s crucial role in initiating the legal battle against the Danish government for illegal arms sales to Israel. In collaboration between ActionAid Denmark, Amnesty International, and Oxfam Denmark, the three organizations have filed a lawsuit against the Danish state for illegal arms sales to Israel.
— I am honored and grateful to receive the Human Act Award. I am especially pleased that the award recognizes work that involves many others—namely the lawsuit against the Danish state over weapons exports to Israel. Many of us have been engaged over the past months in defending civilian lives and guarding international law and human rights. If I have learned anything during this difficult time, it is that the best antidote to discouragement is engagement with others—and that is something that the Human Act Award has recognized for several years, says Tim Whyte, Secretary-General at ActionAid Denmark.
Tim Whyte embodies the spirit of the Human Act Award and encapsulates the ideals of visionary leadership, courage, and dedication to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The prize is awarded to pioneers who make a special effort to advance the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. This year, as the world is marked by major conflicts in both Palestine and Ukraine, the focus naturally falls on Goal 16, which aims to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions—an area where Tim Whyte’s work has a significant impact.
The prize is awarded annually until 2030 and consists of a bronze sculpture by the Danish artist Asmund Havsteen-Mikkelsen.
