A lawyer in Myanmar has been awarded a prestigious human rights award in recognition of his struggle for labour rights under extremely adverse conditions. U Aye Myint, who has set up a legal aid group in Myanmar to handle cases of forced labour, illegal land confiscation and workers' rights, was awarded the European Bar's Ludovic-Trarieux Prize for 2008. He has twice been imprisoned over cases that he has brought to the courts and to the ILO, and has had his licence to practice illegally revoked. On at least one occasion he suffered cruel and inhuman treatment by being kept hooded, handcuffed and unfed for days while detained, says this report.