She made this remark at a ceremony in the US capital of Washington, D.C. to mark International Human Rights Day.

At this ceremony an independent Russian journalist and two Americans received Human Rights Awards.

Michael DeTar, the chief of the political section of the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, was awarded the Human Rights and Democracy Achievement Award for seeking ways to curb human rights abuses that have escalated over the last two years by the warring parties in Sri Lanka's 25-year internal conflict.

US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice said that Michael found creative and pragmatic ways to engage constructively with Sri Lanka while underscoring our human rights concerns.

She described him as a key participant in the international effort to monitor an official Sri Lankan Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses.

She also noted that the Sri Lankan government had adopted his proposed road map to induce a paramilitary group to begin to release its child soldiers.

“Michael helped position the United States to play a leading role in the stabilization and recovery of the conflict-torn Eastern Province, focusing on disarming and demobilizing paramilitaries there.

He was also a key actor in the international effort to monitor an official Commission of Inquiry investigating high-profile cases of human rights abuse, and he has responded quickly and effectively when journalists and other activists have been threatened or arrested." Rice said.

Journalist Yulia Latynina was recognized for fighting corruption and abuses and U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee was awarded the Diplomacy for Freedom Award for his efforts to help the people of Zimbabwe in demanding democratic change.