In a world of rapid changing political and social circumstances, growing conflicts and inequalities, progressive politics to ensure social justice and global solidarity are more important than ever. The 2016 edition of the SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards presents four courageous political choices with four awardees working on highly sensitive and late-breaking political issues: Press Freedom, Decent Work, Women’s Rights, Access to Education for All. 

This year’s winners are:

Journalist Union of Turkey (Türkiye Gazeticiler Sendikasi, TGS), to which we dedicate the Silver Rose for Fundamental Rights. TGS supports jailed journalists and promotes solidarity between journalists in Turkey and abroad – in times, where the debate on Press Freedom is high on the EU’s political agenda and more and more journalists in Turkey and elsewhere face severe threats. 

FairWork, a Dutch organisation, fighting for just and decent work conditions and a slavery-free Netherlands. We dedicate our Silver Rose in the area “Together for Social Europe” to this organisation.   

Dr. Nagham Nawzat Hasan, an activist and gynecologist from Iraq. Ms Hasan will be awarded for her outstanding work to provide psychological counselling and health screenings to Yezidi (Ezidi) girls and women, who were enslaved in subsequence of the attacks on the Iraqi city of Sinjar (Shingal), committed by the Islamic State (IS) in 2014. She will get our Human Rights Silver Rose. 

La ligue de l’enseignement, a French Member of SOLIDAR, which celebrates its 150 years of existence in 2016. The award is given in the category “Building Learning Societies” and honors the engagement of this civic movement for the access of all to education and culture in Europe and worldwide.

As for the past 14 editions the ceremony will take place in the European Parliament in Brussels. The ceremony brings together a wide audience of like-minded individuals with backgrounds in civil society, trade union and politics, for a very much needed and timely celebration of global solidarity and progressive engagement. The SOLIDAR Silver Rose Awards is made possible with the support the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and the Party of European Socialists (PES) and with the media support of EurActiv.

More information can be found on our website; http://www.solidar.org/Silver-Rose-Awards.html