The Solidar Silver Rose Awards is already in its sixth year celebrating outstanding individuals and organisations that are active in the fight for social justice. With each passing year more nominations are sent in and and more prizes awarded.

This year´s awards will be presented once again at a prestigious dinner in the European Parliament on Wednesday 8 November (rather that the usual Tuesday) and hosted by Glenys Kinnock MEP.

Solidar is now seeking nominations for its 2006 Silver Rose Awards. Your organisation itself could nominate an organisation or individual with whom you work who you feel has made an outstanding contribution to the work for civil society.

To coincide with the award ceremony, SOLIDAR also organises a full programme of visits in Brussels allowing award winners the opportunity to meet key European decision makers, journalists and relevant NGOs. 

SOLIDAR is now seeking nominations for the Silver Rose Awards for 2006. Awards are presented in two categories - one for an organisation or individual working within the 25 European Union Member States and one for an organisation or individual working in any country outside the European Union.

If you would like to nominate an individual or organisation deserving of this award, please complete the on-line application found in the Silver Rose Award section of our website (http://www.solidar.org ) before 31 May 2006.

The website will also keep you up to date on the nominations as they are received.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Giampiero Alhadeff
Secretary General of SOLIDAR

SOLIDAR Silver Rose Award for Social Justice

2000 Winners
Doreen and Neville Lawrence (UK)
The parents of Stephen Lawrence, whose long fight for justice led to changes in UK law 

Media for Democracy (Former Yugoslavia)
A group of journalists who have risked life and liberty to keep alive the idea of a free press in former Yugoslavia

2001 Winners
Morgan Tsvangirai (Zimbabwe)
President of the Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change - a key figure in the fight for human rights in Zimbabwe

Rudolf Sarkozi (Austria)
For his struggle for the cause of the Roma population in Austria and in seeking social justice for all Roma and Sinti people

The Barka Foundation for Mutual Help (Poland)
A community organisation in Poland working with the socially excluded to develop training and housing projects

2002 Winners
Belaruski Chas Newspaper (Belarus)
The biggest opposition newspaper in Belarus. The staff of Belaruski Chas has risked life to defend trade union rights and freedom for the media in Belarus.

Jean-Michel Folon (Belgium)
For his continued promotion of human rights through his artwork, including an illustrated version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Sima Samar (Afghanistan)
First Woman Minister of Afghanistan, for Women´s Affairs, Dr Samar practiced as a doctor in border refugee camps, setting up clinics, promoting the rights of Afghan women and children, and is now Head of the Human Rights Commission in Afghanistan.

Promotion et Appui aux Initiatives Feminines (PAIF)  (Democratic Republic of Congo)
For their work monitoring human rights abuses against women, assisting women to fight for their rights in court cases,  running micro-credit programmes and for drawing attention to the widespread use of sexual violence in war.

2003 Winners
Nicolás Gutiérrez (Basque Country, Spain)
For his continued struggle, in the face of great personal risk, to promote freedom and security for all in the Basque country

The Self-Employed Women´s Association (India)
For their outstanding contribution in achieving self reliance and human rights for women workers in India

Zackie Achmat (South Africa)
For his tireless and personal struggle for the right of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Africa to have access to anti-retroviral medicines.

2004 Winners
Tom Benetollo (Italy)
A Special Lifetime Achievements Award was awarded to Tom Benetollo, who died in 2004, for his lifelong work for international solidarity and peace.

Narodna Dopomoha (People´s Aid Ukraine)
For their work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable groups of society, particularly the homeless and the poor.

Graça Machel (Mozambique)
The Silver Rose Award honours Graça Machel´s unrelenting commitment to promoting peace in Africa, and her work championing children´s rights.

National League for Democracy of Burma
For their struggle for democracy in Burma and for their courage in the face of oppression by the ruling military junta.

2005 Winners
Chapitô (Portugal)
For its long history of work supporting young people at risk of social exclusion and its rich contribution to Lisbon´s artistic scene. Chapitô is an Arts centre, professional school of arts and circus school for young disadvantaged people and adults

Lietuvos Samarieciu Bendrija (Lithuania)
For their work in providing assistance to the most vulnerable in Lithuanian society. LSB was established in 1929, banned under the Soviet occupation and it was re-launched in 1992 after independence. Among its activities are soup kitchens, food packages and transport for disabled people and their dependents, and summer camps for the children of socially disadvantaged families.
 
The Global Call to Action against Poverty
For the hard work and personal commitment of the ordinary members of the GCAP alliance, who lobbied their governments and supported local initiatives in the campaign against global poverty. GCAP has mobilised millions onto the streets to demonstrate against global poverty and encourage leaders to live up to their promises.

Juan Somovia (Director of ILO)
For his vision of a just globalisation which puts at its core decent work for a decent life. It also honours the unrecognised work of thousands of men and women around the world who campaign tirelessly for human rights, worker rights and social development

Frank Brassel and Cruz Emilia Rangel Ferreira
The Flower Label Program
For fostering corporate social responsibility in the cut-flower industry. Frank Brassel and Cruz Emilia Rangel Ferreira together with producers from Latin America, trade unions, German importers and florists, developed an international Code of Conduct for cut flower production.

This information can also be found on the Solidar website (www.solidar.org ).