The Václav Havel Human Rights Prize is awarded each year by the PACE
in partnership with the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77
Foundation to reward outstanding civil society action in the defence of
human rights in Europe and beyond.
The Prize is awarded in
memory of Václav Havel, playwright, opponent of totalitarianism,
architect of the Velvet Revolution of 1989, President of Czechoslovakia
and the Czech Republic and an enduring symbol of opposition to
despotism. Nominations of any individual, non-governmental organisation
or institution working to defend human rights are taken into
consideration. The Prize consists of a sum of €60 000, a trophy and a
diploma.
Who can be nominated?
- Individuals or non-governmental institutions active in the defence of human rights can be nominated for the Prize.
Submission of nominations
- Nominations for the Prize should be addressed to the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly and be signed by at least five sponsors, other than the nominee, on the special form to be found at the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize website.
- Nominations shall provide details of the nominee's work in the defence of human rights and specify the reasons why the nominee's work can be considered to be outstanding. Relevant supporting documents should be provided. Nominations should be submitted in either of the two official languages of the Council of Europe, English or French.
The Selection Panel
- The Selection Panel of the Prize is composed of the President of the Assembly (or a person designated by him/her) and six independent persons (who cannot be current members of the Assembly) with recognised moral standing in the field of human rights.
- The Panel will examine the nominations, submit a shortlist of three nominees to the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly for information and, subsequently, designate the Prizewinner for the year in question.
- Three Panel members are appointed by the Bureau of the Parliamentary Assembly and three Panel members by the Václav Havel Library and the Charta 77 Foundation. The six independent experts are appointed for a two-year period, renewable twice.
- The Panel is chaired by the President of the Assembly or the person designated by him/her.
The Award Ceremony
The Prize will be awarded at a ceremony which shall take place in
Strasbourg on the Monday of the Autumn Session of the Parliamentary
Assembly, usually in late September or early October.
The name of the Prizewinner is announced by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly.
The former Czech First Lady, Dagmar Havlova, is invited to honour the ceremony with her presence.
The name of the Prizewinner is announced by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly.
The former Czech First Lady, Dagmar Havlova, is invited to honour the ceremony with her presence.
