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Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - it is not tied to citizenship or residence
The Sakharov Prize is a recognition given by the EU to individuals, groups or organizations for outstanding work and achievements in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms (right to freedom of opinion, protection of minority rights, respect for international law, development of democracy, etc.). regardless of their nationality and residence or registered office.
The award is named after the Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Dimitrievich Sakharov (1921-1989), who became concerned about the future of humanity because of his invention (hydrogen bomb) and the consequences of such an invention. He raised awareness of the dangers of nuclear tests, nuclear war and human rights violations. As a vocal critic of the then Soviet regime, a peace activist and a great human rights activist, he also received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. For his activism, he was exiled to Gorky in 1980, a place of internal political exile in Russia during the communist regime.
The winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought receives financial support (€ 50,000) for his work, extensive media promotion of the issue and protection against possible retaliation in his own country.
Every September, MEPs or parliamentary political groups nominate candidates for the Sakharov Prize. Each candidate must receive at least 40 votes, and one Member may support only one candidate. The Foreign Affairs Committee, the Development Committee and the Human Rights Subcommittee evaluate all supported candidacies, and only three finalists are selected to be put on the final vote. The finalist is chosen by the Conference of Presidents, a body of the European Parliament composed of the President of Parliament, the chairmen of the political groups and the representatives of the non-attached Members. The winner of the award is announced in October, followed in December by the award ceremony in Strasbourg.
The first winner of the 1988 award was Nelson Mandela, who was an activist, philanthropist, political leader, defender of freedom and rights, and a great fighter against racism in South Africa.
Prize winners:
- from 1988 to 1999
Picture: Tile of Nelson Mandela - winer of Sakharov Prize
Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/209395/Sakharov%20Walk%20of%20Fame%20-%20slabs%20with%20laureates%201988-2018.pdf
Since 2016, the European Parliament has also awarded fourteen Sarharov scholarships each year. Scholarships are aimed at human rights defenders from third countries, and the program includes an interactive intensive two-week training based primarily on empowering advocates. Fellows by country can be viewed online.
The award is named after the Russian nuclear physicist Andrei Dimitrievich Sakharov (1921-1989), who became concerned about the future of humanity because of his invention (hydrogen bomb) and the consequences of such an invention. He raised awareness of the dangers of nuclear tests, nuclear war and human rights violations. As a vocal critic of the then Soviet regime, a peace activist and a great human rights activist, he also received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1975. For his activism, he was exiled to Gorky in 1980, a place of internal political exile in Russia during the communist regime.
The winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought receives financial support (€ 50,000) for his work, extensive media promotion of the issue and protection against possible retaliation in his own country.
Every September, MEPs or parliamentary political groups nominate candidates for the Sakharov Prize. Each candidate must receive at least 40 votes, and one Member may support only one candidate. The Foreign Affairs Committee, the Development Committee and the Human Rights Subcommittee evaluate all supported candidacies, and only three finalists are selected to be put on the final vote. The finalist is chosen by the Conference of Presidents, a body of the European Parliament composed of the President of Parliament, the chairmen of the political groups and the representatives of the non-attached Members. The winner of the award is announced in October, followed in December by the award ceremony in Strasbourg.
The first winner of the 1988 award was Nelson Mandela, who was an activist, philanthropist, political leader, defender of freedom and rights, and a great fighter against racism in South Africa.
Prize winners:
- from 1988 to 1999
- - Nelson Mandela, South Africa,
- - Anatoly Marchenko, Russia,
- - Aleksander Dubček, Slovakia,
- - Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar,
- - Adem Demaçi, Kosovo,
- - Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo, Argentina,
- - Journalists of the newspaper Oslobođenje, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
- - Taslima Nasrin, Bangladesh,
- - Lejla Zana, Turkey,
- - Wi Jingsheng, China
- - Salima Ghezali, Algeria,
- - Ibrahim Rugova, Kosovo,
- - Xanana Gusmão, East Timor,
- - Movement ¡Basta Ya !, Spain
- - Dom Zacarias Kamwenho, Angola,
- - Nurit Peled-Elhanan, Israel,
- - Izat Ghazavi, Palestine,
- - Oswaldo José Payá Sardiñas, Cuba,
- - Kofi Annan and all United Nations staff, New York,
- - Belarusian Association of Journalists, Belarus
- - Damas de Blanco, Cuba
- - Hauwa Ibrahim, Nigeria
- - Reporters Without Borders, France
- - Alexander Milinkevich, Belarus
- - Salih Mahmud Mohamed Osman, Sudan
- - Hu Jia, China
- - Memorial (Oleg Orlov, Sergei Kovalev and Lyudmila Alekseeva on behalf of Memorial and all other human rights defenders in Russia), Russia
- - Guillermo Fariñas, Cuba
- - Mohamed Bouazizi, Arab Spring, Tunisia
- - Ali Ferzat, Arab Spring, Syria
- - Asma Mahfuz, Arab Spring, Egypt
- - Ahmed El Zenusi, Libya
- - Razan Zaytuneh, Arab Spring, Syria
- - Jafar Panahi, Iran
- - Nasrin Sotudeh, Iran
- - Malala Yousafzai, Pakistan
- - Denis Mukwege, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- - Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia
- - Nadia Murad and Lamia Haji Bashar, Iraq
- - Democratic opposition in Venezuela, Venezuela
- - Oleg Sencov, Ukraine
- - Ilham Tohti - 2019, ChinaDemocratic opposition in Belarus, Belarus
- - Democratic opposition in Belarus, Belarus
- - Alexei Navalny, Russia.
Picture: Tile of Nelson Mandela - winer of Sakharov Prize
Source: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/209395/Sakharov%20Walk%20of%20Fame%20-%20slabs%20with%20laureates%201988-2018.pdf
Since 2016, the European Parliament has also awarded fourteen Sarharov scholarships each year. Scholarships are aimed at human rights defenders from third countries, and the program includes an interactive intensive two-week training based primarily on empowering advocates. Fellows by country can be viewed online.