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Four Freedoms Award facts for kids

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Four Freedoms Award
Froosevelt.jpeg
Country United States

The Four Freedoms Award is a special honor given each year. It celebrates people and groups who show a strong dedication to ideas that U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt spoke about in 1941. He called these ideas the "Four Freedoms." They are: "freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear."

These awards are given out in two places. In some years, they are presented in New York City by the Roosevelt Institute to Americans. In other years, the ceremony takes place in Middelburg, Netherlands. There, the Roosevelt Stichting gives the awards to people from other countries.

History of the Awards

The Four Freedoms Awards began in 1982. This was a special year because it was 100 years since President Roosevelt was born. It also marked 200 years of friendly relations between the United States and the Netherlands.

The awards were created to highlight the four important freedoms President Roosevelt talked about in his speech:

A specific award was created for each of these four freedoms. There is also a special "Freedom Medal." Sometimes, extra special awards are given out too.

The awards are given to Americans in odd-numbered years. These ceremonies are usually in New York City. In even-numbered years, the awards go to non-Americans. These events happen in Middelburg, Netherlands. Middelburg was chosen because President Roosevelt's family is thought to have come from a nearby Dutch town called Oud-Vossemeer.

Who Has Received the Awards?

Many important people and organizations from around the world have received the Four Freedoms Awards. They are recognized for their work in upholding these important principles.

Freedom Medal Recipients

The Freedom Medal is a very special award. It honors people who have made a huge difference in promoting all four freedoms. Some notable people who have received the Freedom Medal include:

Nelson Mandela-2008 (edit)
Nelson Mandela received the Freedom Medal in 2002.
Angela Merkel 2011
Angela Merkel received the Freedom Medal in 2016.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg official SCOTUS portrait
Ruth Bader Ginsburg received the Freedom Medal in 2015.

Freedom of Speech Award

This award honors those who champion the right to speak freely and express ideas.

The first is freedom of speech and expression — everywhere in the world.

—Roosevelt, January 6, 1941

Some people and groups recognized for protecting freedom of speech include:

Max van der Stoel, ex-minister ontvangt de Freedom of Speech Award uit handen va, Bestanddeelnr 932-3654
Dutch politician Max van der Stoel receiving the Freedom of Speech award in 1982.
John lewis official biopic
John Lewis received the Freedom of Speech Award in 1999.

Freedom of Worship Award

This award is for those who work to ensure everyone can practice their religion freely.

The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way — everywhere in the world.

—Roosevelt, January 6, 1941

Notable recipients include:

"Freedom of Worship" - NARA - 513537
Freedom of Worship, a painting by Norman Rockwell from 1943.
Corettascottking
Coretta Scott King received the Freedom of Worship Award in 1983.
Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel received the Freedom of Worship Award in 1985.

Freedom from Want Award

This award recognizes efforts to ensure people have enough to live healthy, peaceful lives, free from poverty and hunger.

The third is freedom from want — which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants — everywhere in the world.

—Roosevelt, January 6, 1941

Some recipients of this award are:

"Freedom From Want" - NARA - 513539
Freedom from Want by painter Norman Rockwell from 1943.
Grameen Yunus Dec 04
Muhammad Yunus received the Freedom from Want Award in 2006.
Ela Bhatt at the Qalandia Women's Cooperative
Ela Bhatt received the Freedom from Want Award in 2012.

Freedom from Fear Award

This award honors those who work to create a world where people are safe from violence and war.

The fourth is freedom from fear — which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor — anywhere in the world.

—Roosevelt, January 6, 1941

Some notable recipients include:

Aung San Suu Kyi gives speech
Aung San Suu Kyi received the Freedom from Fear Award in 2006.
Louise Arbour - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2011
Louise Arbour received the Freedom from Fear Award in 2000.

Special Presentations

Sometimes, special awards are given for unique contributions. These have included:

  • Mikhail Gorbachev (1990), a former leader of the Soviet Union.
  • Jonas Salk (1995), who developed the polio vaccine.
  • BBC World Service (2005), a global news broadcaster.
RIAN archive 485307 Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev received a special award in 1990.
Ruud Lubbers
Ruud Lubbers received a special award in 1995.

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See also

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