Awards for the World's Worst Human Rights Abusers and their Enablers

Stop Genocide - Change.org: The 2008 Hall of Shame: Awards for the World's Worst Human Rights Abusers and their Enablers

The Napoleon Award for Excellence in the Art of Petty Dictatorship:

Mr. Robert "Bobby" Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe: For running his country into the ground, denying the existence of a massive cholera epidemic (and then blaming it on the British), rigging two elections (because one alone just isn't satisfying), arresting everyone who disagrees with him (because why wouldn't you, if you were a dictator?), and blaming the opposition for spoiling unity talks while claiming that he will "never, never, never, never surrender."

The Jekyll/Hyde Award for Excellence in the Art of Being Shamelessly Two-Faced:

Mr. Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan: For trying to simultaneously threaten retribution and show to world that he's a peace-loving military dictator to convince the UN to suspend the ICC indictment proceedings against him. Of particular note: Making a huge stinking deal about declaring an unconditional ceasefire, and then bombing Darfur a couple of days later.

The "Seriously?" Award for Subverting Your Principles and Supporting the Worst Human Rights Abusers on the Planet:

The African Union and the Arab League: For campaigning to suspend the ICC investigation into Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, with no preconditions for peace.

The Jellyfish Award for Being Utterly Spineless:

The Southern African Development Community: For allowing Bobby Mugabe to walk all over you like Nancy Sinatra in her go-go boots.

The Shovel Award for Digging an Impressively Deep Hole:

All Parties to the Conflict in the DRC: Congolese President Joseph Kabila, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, the Congolese military, the FDLR---y'all really screwed the pooch on this one.

The "Partner in Crime" Award for Being the Bonnie to Bobby's Clyde:

Thabo Mbeki, Former President of South Africa: For showing that you can do so much more than just be complicit in your buddy's plan to sink an entire sub-continent.

The "Well, Of Course You Did" Award for Predictability in Enabling Despots:

China: For never failing to prop up all of the a-holes and dictators everywhere, including all of those mentioned above.

And last, but not least...

The "Squandered Opportunities" Award:

President George Bush and his Administration: For not using your extraordinary power to back up your professed values with actions that could mitigate or end the suffering of millions all over the world.

[Note: The author would like to thank her good friends Kelly Spellman and Michael Kleinman for their assistance in issuing these awards.]