On 3 April 2012, the European Civil Rights Prize endowed with 15 000 euros will be awarded at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin by the Documentation and Cultural Centre and the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, together with the Manfred Lautenschläger Foundation. This year's laureate is the Human Rights Commissioner at the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg. The honorary award goes to the Romanian journalist George Lacatus.
Both laureates make intensive efforts to strengthen the rights of Sinti and Roma. When deciding on the prize-winner, Romani Rose, chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, highlighted the resilience and passion shown by Hammarberg in his work: "As Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg considered the protection of Sinti and Roma against racial violence and exclusion one of his main tasks. As a result he openly criticised responsible governments and the international community", says Rose. Most recently - in february - Hammarberg wrote in his last comprehensive survey on the topic: "No European government can claim a fully successful record in protecting the human rights of the Roma. Roma continue to suffer from widespread discrimination and anti-Gypsyism which feed the cycle of disadvantage, exclusion, segregation and marginalisation."
Journalist George Lacatus works as an investigative reporter at the Evenimentul Zilei, one of Romania's most popular newspapers. Lacatus is engaged in a number of activities which aim to abolishing stereotypes and negativity towards Roma people in the Romanian media and promote awareness and understanding among journalists with regard to Roma issues. In 2009, Lacatus founded the Roma Journalists Association (RJA) which he has presided over ever since. Work carried out by the RJA centres on three main areas: It denounces racist media reports, organises journalism courses and is also a collaborative partner for Roma NGOs at press conferences and journalist training programmes. "George Lacatus has realised", says Dr Manfred Lautenschläger, donor of the prize, "that one major reason for the marginalisation of Sinti and Roma is undifferentiated and discriminatory media reporting - and he wants to change that."
Romani Rose says that the commitment of the laureates is "of the highest political priority, because the current situation in Europe gives cause for the gravest concern as right-wing extremist violence is on the increase." The European Civil Rights Prize introduced in 2007 aims at defending civil rights and equal opportunities of Sinti and Roma minorities in their European home countries. It also seeks to send an important message to politicians, the media and social groups across Europe to fight against deep-rooted clichés, prejudices and any form of exclusion.
Further information can be found at www.buergerrechtspreis.de [German] and www.civilrightsprize.com [English].
Programme
11 am
Welcome
Cornelia Pieper
Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office
Opening Address / Presentation
Dr Silvio Peritore
Deputy Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
Speech
Romani Rose
Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
Laudation
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Laureate
Thomas Hammarberg
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe ret.
Laudation (honorary award)
Dr Manfred Lautenschläger
Donator of the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma
Laureate (honorary award)
George Lacatus
Journalist and President of the Roma Journalist Association
12.30 pm Reception
Europasaal of the Federal Foreign Office | Unterwasserstraße 10 | 10117 Berlin
Both laureates make intensive efforts to strengthen the rights of Sinti and Roma. When deciding on the prize-winner, Romani Rose, chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, highlighted the resilience and passion shown by Hammarberg in his work: "As Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg considered the protection of Sinti and Roma against racial violence and exclusion one of his main tasks. As a result he openly criticised responsible governments and the international community", says Rose. Most recently - in february - Hammarberg wrote in his last comprehensive survey on the topic: "No European government can claim a fully successful record in protecting the human rights of the Roma. Roma continue to suffer from widespread discrimination and anti-Gypsyism which feed the cycle of disadvantage, exclusion, segregation and marginalisation."
Journalist George Lacatus works as an investigative reporter at the Evenimentul Zilei, one of Romania's most popular newspapers. Lacatus is engaged in a number of activities which aim to abolishing stereotypes and negativity towards Roma people in the Romanian media and promote awareness and understanding among journalists with regard to Roma issues. In 2009, Lacatus founded the Roma Journalists Association (RJA) which he has presided over ever since. Work carried out by the RJA centres on three main areas: It denounces racist media reports, organises journalism courses and is also a collaborative partner for Roma NGOs at press conferences and journalist training programmes. "George Lacatus has realised", says Dr Manfred Lautenschläger, donor of the prize, "that one major reason for the marginalisation of Sinti and Roma is undifferentiated and discriminatory media reporting - and he wants to change that."
Romani Rose says that the commitment of the laureates is "of the highest political priority, because the current situation in Europe gives cause for the gravest concern as right-wing extremist violence is on the increase." The European Civil Rights Prize introduced in 2007 aims at defending civil rights and equal opportunities of Sinti and Roma minorities in their European home countries. It also seeks to send an important message to politicians, the media and social groups across Europe to fight against deep-rooted clichés, prejudices and any form of exclusion.
Further information can be found at www.buergerrechtspreis.de [German] and www.civilrightsprize.com [English].
Programme
11 am
Welcome
Cornelia Pieper
Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office
Opening Address / Presentation
Dr Silvio Peritore
Deputy Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
Speech
Romani Rose
Chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma
Laudation
Maud de Boer-Buquicchio
Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Laureate
Thomas Hammarberg
Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe ret.
Laudation (honorary award)
Dr Manfred Lautenschläger
Donator of the European Civil Rights Prize of the Sinti and Roma
Laureate (honorary award)
George Lacatus
Journalist and President of the Roma Journalist Association
12.30 pm Reception
Europasaal of the Federal Foreign Office | Unterwasserstraße 10 | 10117 Berlin
