Posted on 13 December 2017
The Historical Archives of the European Union and the European Parliament's Representation in Italy will hold a discussion on human rights to mark the awarding of the 2017 Sakharov Prize. The prize will be awarded to the Venezuelan organisation 'Democratic Opposition in Venezuela', in Strasbourg, on 13 December.
Hans-Gert Pöttering, former President of the European Parliament (2007 – 2009), will deliver a speech and field questions from the audience on the issues of human rights and freedom of thought. Invited participants include 120 high-school students, participants in educational programmes offered respectively by the European Parliament’s Representation in Rome and the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence. Stefano Polli, vice-director of ANSA News Agency, will introduce President Pöttering and moderate the event.
The European Parliament has awarded the 'Sakharov Prize' annually since 1988. The award, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, seeks to recognise individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to defending human rights and fundamental freedoms. The award ceremony will be live-streamed from Strasbourg at the EUI.
The winner of the 2017 Sakharov Prize is 'Democratic Opposition in Venezuela'