The book of Sakharov prize laureates

Awarded for the first time in 1988 to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the highest tribute to human rights endeavours the European Union accords. It recognises individuals, groups and organisations who have given an outstanding contribution to freedom of thought. Through it and its associated network, the EU supports laureates, who are strengthened and empowered in their fight for their causes. The prize has so far been awarded to dissidents, political leaders, journalists, lawyers, civil society activists, writers, mothers, wives, minority leaders, an anti-terrorist group, peace activists, an anti-torture activist, a cartoonist, a long-serving prisoner of conscience, a film-maker, a child fighting for the right to education and even the UN as a body. It rewards in particular freedom of expression, safeguarding the rights of minorities, respect for international law, development of democracy and implementation of the rule of law. The European Parliament confers the Sakharov Prize with its € 50 000 endowment at a formal plenary sitting in Strasbourg towards the end of each year. Parliament’s political groups may each nominate candidates as may individual members with the support of at least 40 members for each candidate. The nominees are presented at a joint sitting of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees and the Human Rights Sub-committee and the Members of the full Committees vote on a short-list of three. The final winner or winners of the Sakharov Prize are chosen by the Conference of Presidents, an EP body led by the President and encompassing the leaders of all the different political groups represented in Parliament, making the choice of laureates a truly European choice