Sakharov Prize - Definition and Overview

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1985 by the European Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organizations who had dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedoms.

The Sakharov Prize is awarded annually on or around 10 December, the day on which the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed.

Recipients

Past recipients of the prize have been the following:

• 1988: Nelson Mandela and Anatoli Marchenko (posthumously)
• 1989: Alexander Dubcek
• 1990: Aung San Suu Kyi
• 1991: Adem Demaci
• 1992: Las Madres de la Plaza de Mayo (The Mothers of the Mayo Square)
• 1993: Oslobodjenje
• 1994: Taslima Nasrin
• 1995: Leyla Zana
• 1996: Wei Jingsheng
• 1997: Salima Ghezali
• 1998: Ibrahim Rugova
• 1999: Xanana Gusmão
• 2000: Basta Ya
• 2001: Nurit Peled, Izzat Ghazzawi, Dom Zacarias Kamwenho
• 2002: Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas
• 2003: United Nations
• 2004: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Links

• Speeches of laureates and the president of the EP (http://www.europarl.eu.int/comparl/afet/droi/sakharov/default.htm)