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Sakharov Prize facts for kids

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Remise du Prix Sakharov à Aung San Suu Kyi Strasbourg 22 octobre 2013-14
Aung San Suu Kyi receiving the Sakharov Prize in 2013.

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is a special award for people or groups who have worked hard to protect human rights and the freedom to think and speak freely. It's often just called the Sakharov Prize. The prize is named after a Russian scientist and activist named Andrei Sakharov. The European Parliament started this award in December 1988.

Each year, the European Parliament's committees for foreign affairs and development choose a few people or groups who might win. Then, the leaders of the European Parliament make the final decision in October. The winner gets the award at a ceremony in Strasbourg, France, in December. The prize also comes with €50,000 (about $54,000 USD).

The first winners in 1988 were Nelson Mandela from South Africa and Anatoly Marchenko from Russia. In 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi won, but she couldn't get her award until 2013 because she was held as a political prisoner in her home country, Myanmar. Groups can also win, like the Argentine Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo in 1992. Some Sakharov Prize winners have also won the Nobel Peace Prize, including Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege, and Nadia Murad.

Some winners have faced difficulties. Razan Zaitouneh (2011) went missing in 2013. Nasrin Sotoudeh (2012) was released from prison but cannot leave Iran, just like her fellow 2012 winner, Jafar Panahi.

Who Has Won the Sakharov Prize?

Key
Posthumous award Means the award was given after the person had passed away.
Year Picture Winner Country What they are known for Reference
1988 Nelson Mandela was the inaugural winner of the prize, together with Anatoly Marchenko Mandela, NelsonNelson Mandela  South Africa Fought against unfair racial segregation and became the first President of South Africa.
Marchenko, AnatolyAnatoly Marchenko Posthumous award  Soviet Union A Russian activist and writer who spoke out for human rights.
1989 Dubček in 1989 Dubček, AlexanderAlexander Dubček  Czechoslovakia A Slovak politician who tried to bring more freedom to his country.
1990 Suu Kyi in 2013 Aung San Suu Kyi  Myanmar A politician known for her peaceful fight against military rule in Myanmar. She accepted her award in 2013 after being held for many years.
1991
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Demaçi, AdemAdem Demaçi  Yugoslavia A politician from Kosovo who was held as a political prisoner for a long time.
1992 The white shawl of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, painted on the floor in Buenos Aires, Argentina Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo  Argentina A group of mothers in Argentina whose children disappeared during a difficult time in their country's history.
1993 The Oslobođenje logo, 2019 Oslobođenje  Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina A newspaper that supported Bosnia and Herzegovina as a country for all ethnic groups.
1994 Nasrin in 2013 Nasrin, TaslimaTaslima Nasrin  Bangladesh A feminist writer and former doctor.
1995 Zana in 2007 Zana, LeylaLeyla Zana  Turkey A Kurdish politician from Turkey who was imprisoned for her political activities.
1996 Jingsheng in 2010 Jingsheng, WeiWei Jingsheng  China An activist who supported democracy in China.
1997 Ghezali in 2013 Ghezali, SalimaSalima Ghezali  Algeria A journalist and writer who champions women's rights and democracy in Algeria.
1998 Rugova in 2004 Rugova, IbrahimIbrahim Rugova  FR Yugoslavia A Kosovo Albanian politician and the first President of Kosovo.
1999 Gusmão in 2011 Gusmão, XananaXanana Gusmão  East Timor A former freedom fighter who became the first President of East Timor.
2000
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¡Basta Ya!  Spain An organization in Spain that brings people together against violence.
2001 Peled-Elhanan in 2001 Peled-Elhanan, NuritNurit Peled-Elhanan  Israel A peace activist.
Ghazzawi, IzzatIzzat Ghazzawi  Palestine A writer and professor.
Zacarias Kamwenho in 2013 Kamwenho, Dom ZacariasDom Zacarias Kamwenho  Angola An archbishop and peace activist.
2002 Payá, OswaldoOswaldo Payá  Cuba A political activist and critic of the government.
2003 Annan in 2012 Annan, KofiKofi Annan  Ghana A Nobel Peace Prize winner and former leader of the United Nations.
The UN-flag since its inception in 1946 United Nations International
2004
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Belarusian Association of Journalists  Belarus A group that works to protect freedom of speech and the rights of journalists.
2005 Members of Ladies in White demonstrating in Havana, Cuba, in 2012 Ladies in White  Cuba A group of women in Cuba who protest for the release of political prisoners.
The Reporters Without Borders logo since 2012 Reporters Without Borders International A group based in France that works for press freedom around the world.
Ibrahim in 2018 Ibrahim, HauwaHauwa Ibrahim  Nigeria A lawyer who defends human rights.
2006 Milinkevich in 2009 Milinkievič, AlaksandarAlaksandar Milinkievič  Belarus A politician who ran for president in Belarus to represent the opposition.
2007 Osman in 2013 Mahmoud Osman, SalihSalih Mahmoud Osman  Sudan A lawyer who defends human rights.
2008 Hu Jia Jia, HuHu Jia  China An activist and government critic.
2009
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Memorial  Russia An international group that works for civil rights and studies history.
2010 Fariñas in 2014 Fariñas, GuillermoGuillermo Fariñas  Cuba A doctor, journalist, and political activist.
2011 Mahfouz in 2011 Mahfouz, AsmaaAsmaa Mahfouz  Egypt Five people who represented the Arab people's fight for freedom and human rights.
al-Senussi in 2011 al-Senussi, AhmedAhmed al-Senussi  Libya
Zaitouneh from an unknown date Zaitouneh, RazanRazan Zaitouneh  Syria
Ferzat from Michael Netzer's Portraits of the Creators Sketchbook, 2011 Farzat, AliAli Farzat
Mohamed Bouazizi Posthumous award  Tunisia
2012 Panahi in 2007 Panahi, JafarJafar Panahi  Iran Iranian activists: Sotoudeh is a lawyer, and Panahi is a film director.
Sotoudeh in 2012 Sotoudeh, NasrinNasrin Sotoudeh
2013 Yousafzai in 2019 Yousafzai, MalalaMalala Yousafzai  Pakistan A young activist who campaigns for girls' right to education.
2014 Mukwege in 2014 Mukwege, DenisDenis Mukwege  Democratic Republic of the Congo A doctor who helps women who have been harmed in conflict.
2015 Badawi in 2012 Badawi, RaifRaif Badawi  Saudi Arabia A Saudi Arabian writer and activist who created a website for free discussion.
2016 Murad in 2016 Murad, NadiaNadia Murad  Iraq Yazidi human rights activists who survived difficult experiences.
Aji Bashar in 2017 Aji Bashar, LamiyaLamiya Aji Bashar
2017 Lorent Saleh inaugurated at the Sakharov Walk of Freedom Democratic opposition in Venezuela  Venezuela Members of Venezuela's National Assembly and political prisoners, recognized for their bravery in facing government actions.
2018 Sentsov in 2018 Sentsov, OlegOleg Sentsov  Ukraine A film director who represents the fight for the release of political prisoners.
2019 Tohti in 2011 Ilham Tohti  China A Uyghur economist, scholar, and human rights activist.
2020 Tsikhanouskaya in 2020 Democratic opposition in Belarus  Belarus People who are working for democracy in Belarus, including leaders and activists.
2021 Navalny in 2011 Navalny, AlexeiAlexei Navalny  Russia A Russian politician and activist who fights against corruption.
2022 Representatives from Ukraine The Ukrainian people  Ukraine Recognized for protecting democracy, freedom, and the rule of law during a difficult time.
2023 Solidarity with the people of Iran (52394248943).jpg Mahsa Jina Amini Posthumous award  Iran Mahsa Amini's passing led to many protests, often using the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom."
A sign with the slogan on it in Central and Northern Kurdish as well as English Woman, Life, Freedom movement
2024 Machado in 2023 María Corina Machado  Venezuela Opposition politicians.
González in 2024 Edmundo González

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Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Premio Sájarov para niños

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