The Prize
The James J. Busuttil Medal and Prize is awarded for the publication of a book on human rights, in English, preferably by someone within the first ten years of their academic career. The award winner will be presented with a medal and a cash award of £1,000.
About the Prize
The Medal and Prize are offered by Dr James J. Busuttil, an activist, author, academic and non-governmental organisation leader in human rights, to promote research and publication on human rights. The prize was instigated in 2024 and the inaugural prize was made in 2025.
Dr James J. Busuttil FRSA FRAS FRGS FIoD founded the Amnesty International group at Harvard University while a student and later founded the Amnesty group at New York University School of Law. A few years later, he was asked to serve on the Board of Amnesty International USA. He has been on human rights fact-finding missions to Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and Uganda, and has written and published reports on these missions. In addition, Dr. Busuttil has published on international humanitarian law, European human rights, and religion and human rights. He created courses on Information and Communication Technologies for Human Rights; Religion, Human Rights and Social Change; Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; and Human Rights Practicum, among others. Dr. Busuttil was director of a major British human rights charity and a member of the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. He has served on numerous national and international professional committees concerning human rights.
Winner of
the 2025 Prize

Professor Christian O. Christiansen
for his book
In Defense of Economic and Social Human Rights: An Intellectual History, 1940 to the Present
Past Winners
![walker-05 (1)[39][88] walker-05 (1)[39][88]](https://royalasiaticsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/walker-05-13988-180x180.jpeg)
Winner of the 2024 Prize
Dr Lydia Walker
for her book
States-in-Waiting: A Counternarrative of Global Decolonization

Winner of the 2024 Prize
Dr Sandhya Fuchs
for her book
Fragile Hope: Seeking Justice for Hate Crimes in India