Diane Abbott, the Labour MP, was awarded a special prize last night for her "42 days" speech at the Human Rights Awards 2008 presented by Liberty, Justice and the Law Society.

The speech, delivered in the House of Commons on June 11, has been praised by David Davies, MP as "one of the finest I have heard since being elected to the House of Commons" and can be read in full on Liberty's website.

Abbott said that she opposed the proposals to extend the time terrorist suspects could be held without charge — and it was because she believed they would "make us less safe, not more safe".

She added: "I do not believe, as ministers continue to insist, that there is some trade-off between our liberties and the safety of the realm. What makes us free is what makes us safe and what makes us safe is what will make us free."

The judges commended Abbott's "passionate campaigning and brilliant advocacy on behalf of a range of human rights issues, most recently in opposition to 42 days pre-charge detention and in defence of women's right to abortion".

The award of Human Rights Lawyer of the Year went to Tim Otty, QC, chiefly for his "remarkable work, often done on a pro bono basis, and in particular his work in support of those subject to the worst excesses of the 'war on terror', such as control orders and the detention of UK residents at Guantanamo Bay".

Otty was a member of a team of counsel for the Commonwealth Lawyers' Asociation in three separate US Supreme Court cases challenging the legality of the detention of suspects there. This year he was also counsel to tribunal under Lord Cullen into the allegations of misbehaviour concering the Chief Justice of Gibraltar which has just reported.

The Peter Duffy award, which commemorates the life and achievements of one of the UK's most dedicated human rights lawyers, went to Ajanta Kaza, for promoting human rights pro bono and "her exceptional work in support of freedom of expression".

The Human Rights Award went to Corner House Research (the group with which the Campaign Against Arms Trade) challenged the Serious Fraud Office's decision to halt its investigation into alleged corruption by BAE Systems in the Saudi Arabian Al Yamamah arms deal.

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