The Foreign Ministry announces the first edition of the CIDU Prize for Human Rights destined to 7 candidates every year, among Institutions, Associations and individuals, who have particularly distinguished themselves for having contributed to increase the collective awareness of Human Rights in our country. Created on the initiative of Deputy Minister Emanuela Del Re, in agreement with Minister Di Maio, the Award is characterised by an approach aimed at emphasizing the variety of themes and interventions concerning the protection of universally shared values, in line with the role of the Inter-ministerial Committee for Human Rights (CIDU), the national institution of reference for the application of the various Conventions on Human Rights to which Italy has adhered, which is based at the Foreign Ministry.
Therefore, an award scheme was chosen to ensure also an age and gender balance among the candidates, while their selection was carried out by an “Honours Committee”, chaired by the Deputy Minister and composed of institutional, academic and civil society representatives, with different sensitivities and experiences in the field of Human Rights.
“With this Award we aim to enhance the widespread social and institutional commitment in our country with respect to every aspect that concerns the sphere of Human Rights” – Deputy Minister Emanuela Del Re says – “Through the network of the CIDU, we hope to spread its visibility and moral significance, also and especially among the new generations”.
In particular, for this first edition in 2020, the 10 members of the Honour Committee have defined the following assignments:
Representing the institutions, it was decided to award the Observatory for Security Against Discriminatory Acts of the State Police (OSCAD);
Among the Associations, Green Cross Italia was chosen;
With regard to the four awards dedicated to individuals with different gender and generation profiles, the choice fell on:
– Mr Ernesto Olivero, founder and President of the Arsenal of Peace in Turin;
– Sister Eugenia Bonetti, founder of the Slaves No More Association,
– The ‘young candidate’ Nicolò Govoni (27 years old), in consideration of his awareness-raising activities on refugees and migrants;
– The ‘young candidate’ Valentina Tafuni (28 years old), thanks to her commitment to the human rights of people with disabilities.
Finally, for the category dedicated to the theme of freedom of the press and information, the Prize was awarded to Nello Scavo, in light of his journalistic commitment to human rights.
For this first edition, the award ceremony will take place on 10th December, coinciding with the celebrations of World Human Rights Day, as part of the Human Rights Festival in Rome.
Further details about the award and the winners of this first edition are available on the website esteri.en.
