The North-South Centre of the Council of Europe announces the opening of the call for nominations for the 29^th North-South Prize of the Council of Europe. The call allows to identify activists, personalities or organisations that have distinguished themselves by their exceptional commitment to international solidarity. It is open until 22 September.
 

The North-South Prize of the Council of Europe is a unique event to celebrate and promote the defense of fundamental rights, respect between peoples and the protection of our planet. The North-South Prize of the Council of Europe reminds us that we are one with the other regions of the world, and that many women and men devote their lives to strengthening this unity.

The call is open to anyone wishing to contribute to the international recognition of the candidates of their choice. The nomination form can be completed in English or French on the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe’s webpage.
The main information requested relates to the reasons for the nomination and the nominee’s accomplishments.

The list of candidates is then communicated to the Jury, which is composed by representatives of civil society organisations, local and regional authorities, parliaments, international organisations and of the North-South Centre Member States. The jury is responsible for selecting the two Laureates who will receive an honorary prize at an official ceremony held at the Assembly of the Republic of Portugal and broadcasted live on the website of the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. The selection of the Jury aims at contributing to raise public awareness on matters of public interest, highlighted through the work of the Laureates.

If you would like to learn more about the selection process, please refer to the regulations.

Since 1995, the Council of Europe North-South Prize has been awarded annually to two candidates, one from the North and the other from the South, who have distinguished themselves by their exceptional commitment to the protection of human rights, the defense of pluralist democracy, or to raising public awareness on issues of global interdependence and solidarity.

This year’s laureates will join a prestigious list constituted by 50 personalities from 35 countries such as Mr Kofi Annan, Mr Peter Gabriel, Ms Simone Veil, Ms Zarifa Ghafari, Her Highness Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, Mr André Azoulay, Ms Mary Robinson, as well as international organisations such as Mediterranean Experts on Climate and environmental Change (MedECC) and the International Commission against the Death Penalty.

For more information, please visit the North South Centre of the Council of Europe webpage.