Press Releases

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announces the first annual competition for the "Stella Soulioti" Human Rights Award and the opening on Monday, 2 August 2021, of the window for submission of nominations or proposals for 2021. Anyone interested may either put themselves forward or nominate other individuals, groups or Organizations for the Award, by completing the relevant form, as appropriate, available through the links provided below.

The Award was established by a Decision of the Council of Ministers taken on 2 June 2021, based on a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and shall hereafter be awarded on an annual basis on 10 December (Human Rights Day), to individuals/groups/Organizations who have demonstrated over the period of the preceding 12 months outstanding work and activity in a field or fileds directly related to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Nominations or proposals can be submitted by/for persons or groups of persons legally residing in Cyprus, as well as by/for Non-Governmental Organizations registered and active in the Republic of Cyprus.

Based on the relevant Decision of the Council of Ministers, the evaluation of the nominations/ proposals and the selection of the winner will be made by a five-member Evaluation Committee comprising the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Chairman), the Minister of Justice, the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights (Ombudsman) and two personalities known for their activity in the field of human rights, who are to be selected to serve on an annual basis upon recommendation by the three ex officio members of the Committee. For the current year, Mr. Alecos Modinos (pioneer activist) and Ms. Tonia Stavrinou (journalist) were invited and have accepted to sit on the Committee.

The Award is accompanied by a prize of 10,000 Euro, which is intended to support the activities of the winning person/group/Organization in the field of protection and promotion of human rights in Cyprus.

Duly completed application or nomination forms should be addressed via post to "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Palace Avenue, 1447 Nicosia", with the envelope clearly marked on the outside "Human Rights Award".

For more information or clarification you may call on (+357) 22651229 or send an e-mail to mspathi@mfa.gov.cy .

The deadline for receipt of nominations/proposals expires on Thursday, September 30, 2021.

FORMS

— Nomination form

(in case of nominations concerning the nominator him/herself)

— Nomination proposal form

(in case of nomination proposals concerning another person/group/Organization)

To see the relevant MFA Announcement of 10 December 2020 click here.

(IK)