On 15 September, 2011, meeting of the Chapter of the Polish Prize of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2002-2003) took place.

The prize is awarded annually to individuals and NGOs for special merits in peaceful co-existence and co-operation of communities, religions and cultures. The Panel of Judges, which consists of the high representatives of the President of the Republic of Poland, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the Polish Ombudsman, the President of the Institute of National Remembrance, Embassies and foundations which support activities in the field of human rights, as well as the Prize Founders, looked into 29 applications. In the "person" category, 15 individuals were nominated, whereas in the "NGO" category, 12 organisations. All applications sent, met the criteria of the Prize’s regulations.

The nominees in the "person" category are as follows:

Adam Bartosz, Adam Daniel Rotfeld, Anastasia Kohoroshilova, Andre Azouulay, Andrzej Folwarczny, Andrzej Mirga, Bernard Kouchner, Hassan Omar Hassan, Krzysztof Czyżewski, Andrea Riccardi.

The nominees in the "NGO" category are:

Halina Nieć Legal Aid Centre, Aushwitz Jewish Centre, Bente Kahan Foundation, Young Polonia Foundation: Poland - Europe - World, Borderland Foundation, Polish Migration Forum, ICORN –International Cities of Refuge Network, Amnesty International, Association for Legal Intervention (SIP), Małopolskie Forum of Cooperation with the Polonia, WATOTO – Africa’s Children, Roma People Association in Poland.

After the nominations’ evaluation, discussion and voting, the Panel of Judges decided that the Polish Prize of Sergio Vieira de Mello will be awarded to:

• in the "person" category: Mr. Hassan Omar Hassan from Nairobi - for his actions to protect human rights and dignity, improve conditions in refugee camps in Kenya and the fight against ethnic, religious and cultural divisions in Kenya.
• in the "NGO" category: Halina Nieć Legal Aid Centre from Krakow - for providing free legal aid to refugees and other foreigners in Poland seeking protection from persecution and violation of fundamental human rights and for undertaking initiatives to promote integration, peaceful co-existence and intercultural conflict reduction.

In addition, in recognition of special merits for refugees and persecuted individuals, in this unique year in which the international community celebrates the 150th anniversary of Fridtjof Nansen, the first League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Panel of Judges decided to award a special Honorary Award to:

• Mr. Bernard Kouchner, a medical doctor, founder of the association "Doctors of the World" co-founder of the association "Doctors Without Borders", the originator of breakthrough UN General Assembly resolutions concerning the right to use humanitarian interventions.

The awards ceremony will be held at the Villa Decius on 13th October, 2010, and will be a special event accompanying the international conference "Borderless People.”

Project’s coordination:
Jadwiga Figiel-Stoch

Photos by Paweł Mazur

Organiser:

Partners:

Cooperation:

• Kancelaria Prezydenta RP
• Departament Narodów Zjednoczonych i Praw Człowieka MSZ
• Konsulat Generalny Stanów Zjednoczonych w Krakowie
• Instytut Pamięci Narodowej
• Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich
• Fundacja Kultury Chrześcijańskiej Znak

Funders:

Projekt zrealizowano przy udziale finansowym Miasta Kraków
Projekt współfinansowany przez Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP

General Sponsor of Villa Decius:

Sponsors:

Media patronage: