On October 5, 2006 Siðmennt presented its Humanist of the Year Award for the second time. The 2006 recipient was Ragnar Aðalsteinsson, a prominent Icelandic Human Rights lawyer for his life-long, passionate commitment to protecting and increasing human rights in Iceland. For more than half a century Ragnar has accepted many controversial cases which have not only involved the human rights of individuals but also society as a whole. If not for the work of this one man the human rights situation in Iceland would be in a completely different and worse state than it is today. Hope Knútsson, president of Siðmennt recounted a short listing of the many projects which Ragnar has championed down through the years and presented him with 2 books with collected writings of Thomas Paine, and a framed award certificate.