Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) –Political groups in the European Parliament presented their nominees for the Sakharov Prize 2024 during a joint committee session. The three finalists will be picked in October.
The candidates were introduced in a joint meeting held by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Committee on Development.
Who are the nominees for the Sakharov Prize 2024?
María Corina Machado as the head of the democratic forces in Venezuela and President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, representing all Venezuelans inside and outside the country battling for the re-institution of freedom and democracy, Venezuela, selected by the EPP group in EU Parliament.
“Women Wage Peace” and “Women of the sun” and their co-architects Yael Admi and Reem Hajajreh, Israel/Palestine, were picked by the S&D group. Tech giant and X owner Elon Musk, United States, nominated by the Patriots for Europe group.
Edmundo González Urrutia, Venezuela, proposed by the ECR group. Women Wage Peace & Women of the Sun from Israel/Palestine, recommended by the Renew Europe group. Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu from Azerbaijan, was picked by The Greens/EFA group.
Reporters in Palestine (Hamza & Wael Al-Dahdouh, Plestia Alaqad, Shireen Abu Akleh and Ain Media in honour of Yasser Murtaja & Roshdi Sarraj), Palestine, proposed by The Left group in EU Parliament. Moreover, Elon Musk was also nominated by the Europe of Sovereign nations group.
How has the Sakharov Prize evolved since 1988?
Granted for the first time in 1988 to Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the most elevated tribute paid by the European Union to human rights work. It provides recognition to individuals, groups and institutions that have made an outstanding contribution to defending freedom of thought. It promotes certain freedom of expression, the rights of minorities, respect for international law, the growth of democracy and the performance of the rule of law. In 2023, the prize was granted to Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran.
On 19 September, MEPs and political groups selected their candidates for the Sakharov Prize. Each nominee must have the consent of at least one political group or 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may sponsor only one nominee.
A shortlist of three nominees will be drawn up through a vote by the Foreign Affairs and Development committees on 17 October. The final victor or winners of the Sakharov Prize are determined by the Conference of Presidents, a European Parliament body directed by the president, which includes the heads of all the political groups represented in the Parliament, making the choice of laureates a truly European choice. This year, the Conference of Presidents will choose the winning laureate on 24 October. The award tradition will take place on 18 December, during a plenary sitting in Strasbourg.
