Democratic Engagement Award of the Region Grand Est

8 November 2016 - 18.00, Maison de la Région, 1 Place Adrien Zeller, 67070 Strasbourg (with invitation only)

Since the first World Forum for Democracy in 2012, the Region Grand Est highlights personalities from around the world who are committed to the defense of human rights and democracy. The democratic engagement Award honors a personality, active in civil society and committed to the defense of human rights and democracy in his or her country. Last year, the Region awarded Mana Neyestani, illustrator and Iranian political refugee in France. In 2014, Najiba Sharif, Afghan refugee journalist in Mulhouse, has been honoured with price. In 2013 it was Preethi Herman, working for the petition website Change.org, and in 2012 Tunisian blogger Lina Ben Mhenni received the award. The Grand Est Region joins the Amnesty International Association to alert the media and authorities about unacceptable situations for certain activists and individuals.

The 5th Democratic Engagement Award goes to Raphael Pitti, emergency doctor, war and disaster medicine specialist on 8 November 2016.

Reporters without Borders Award

8 November 2016 - 19.00, Cinéma Odyssée, 3 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, 67000 Strasbourg

18.30  Shuttle in front of the Council of Europe

Since 1992, the largest independent organization for the defense and promotion of freedom of information in the world awards the work of journalists, media and net-citizens who have contributed significantly to the defense or promotion of freedom in the world. For the fourth consecutive year, the RSF award ceremony takes place in Strasbourg in the framework of the World Forum of Democracy in the presence of the winners, elected officials and media personalities. Past winners include Can Dündar, editor of Cumhuriyet, currently still in exile, or Raif Badawi, still detained in Saudi jails, and Sakharov Prize winner in 2015.

This year, Syrian media activist Hadi Abdallah has won the Reporters without Borders Award.