The European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma was founded in November 2007 in Heidelberg by the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, the Documentation and Cultural Centre of German Sinti and Roma and the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation. The international prize is endowed with 15.000 Euro by the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation. It has been awarded for the first time in December 2008.
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Intention of the prize
Against the background of the extremely alarming human rights situation of the Sinti and Roma in many European states – especially in eastern and southeastern Europe – this prize will contribute towards the protection and assertion of the civil rights and the equality of opportunity of the members of the Sinti and Roma minorities in their respective countries of nationality. At the same time, the prize should be regarded as a signal to politicians, media and social groups in Europe to take action against deeply rooted clichés and structures of prejudice, in order to gradually overcome the everyday marginalization of the minority. The European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma is aimed at strengthing social engagement and prompting politicians and citizens to actively call for the effective equality of treatment of Sinti and Roma and their self-evident integration into all areas of public life.
Awarding criteria
The prize supports political and social efforts for the lasting protection of people affected by discrimination, in order to enable them to live an independent life. The prize honours individuals, groups or institutions primarily from the majority, who face up to the historical responsibility and have been exemplary in calling for an improvement in the human rights situation of the Sinti and Roma.
Award procedure
The decision is made by an international jury consisting of eight members. Permanent members of the jury are the head of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and the head of the Manfred-Lautenschläger-Foundation. They also decide about the other four jury-members, who are appointed for four years. Every jury-member is able to nominate laureates, the election results from majority decision. The repeated awarding of the same individual, group or institution is impossible.