As delivered

Chère Dr Amani Ballour,

Chers membres du jury,

Chers Ambassadeurs,

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Je suis honorée et ravie de remettre le quatrième Prix Raoul Wallenberg.

Cette importante distinction existe grâce au généreux soutien du Gouvernement suédois et du Parlement hongrois.

Nous remercions chacun d'entre eux cet après-midi et, bien entendu nos remerciements vont également aux membres du jury pour leur travail dans le choix du gagnant de cette année.

Raoul Wallenberg is remembered for his courage and conviction.

In a time of conflict, he went to extraordinary lengths, and at great personal risk, to save the lives of others.

Today, there are generations of Jews, whose parents, grandparents and great-grand-parents lived in Hungary during the Second World War, and who are alive today thanks to the bravery and determination of this Swedish diplomat.

And we are very fortunate to be joined today by Ingrid Carlberg, one of our jury and Raoul Wallenberg’s prize-winning biographer, who will also speak today about the importance of his legacy.

There are clear parallels between Raoul Wallenberg’s actions and those of today’s prize winner.

She too pursued a humanitarian goal at a time of war.

She too decided to risk her own safety and security in order to help those in the greatest need.

She too saved lives and ensured the survival of individuals who will go on to have children and grandchildren of their own.

Dr Amani Ballour, your decision to take on the leadership of “the Cave”, an underground hospital in your Syrian home town, was not one brave and selfless act alone:

Rather, it enabled you and others to take action after action, saving the lives of countless, desperate individuals, including children suffering from the effects of chemical weapons.

You are the winner of this year’s Raoul Wallenberg Prize, and it is a prize that you richly deserve.

You are also the first of our laureates to come from outside Europe.

However, I am aware that today you live in Turkey from where, as refugee, you continue to support female leaders and medical workers in conflict zones and advocate for the millions of displaced Syrians in need:

A clear sign of your impressive and ongoing determination to do good in the world.

And we are all grateful to the French and Turkish authorities for the role that they have played in making your presence here today possible.

I know that the film that will be shown shortly – “The Cave” – provides a powerful representation of your leadership and of the work that you and your colleagues, Samaher and Dr Alaa, carried out, in terrible conditions:

Work that was possible for you, as women, to undertake inside The Cave, but which would not have been permitted above ground.

Today, on the seventy fifth anniversary of Raoul Wallenberg’s arrest in Budapest, it is impossible to think of a more worthy winner of this prize.

So, on behalf of the whole Council of Europe, I offer you not just my congratulations, but my deepest respect for the sacrifice, courage and inspiration that you have provided.

Thank you.