Previously Pawinee also worked in the southern border provinces where martial law was imposed.

In winning the award, the ceremony of which was organised in remembrance of missing pro-rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, Pawinee was also given Bt30,000

Anti-dictatorship student activist Jatupat Boonpatararaksa, or Pai Dao Din, the Loei-based Rak Ban Kerd group and a group of 14 Myanmar labourers were recognised for their exemplary efforts to protect human rights and were each granted Bt15,000.

Rak Ban Kerd is well known for protecting community rights against a big mining company while the labourers efforts centred on migrant workers.