The nomination period for the 2021 edition of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award for courage and excellence in promotion of freedom, solidarity and equality is open until 15 September. The award - a collaboration between the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the City of Gdansk and International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) – is an homage to Mayor Paweł Adamowicz who focused his activities on fostering solidarity, the integration of migrants and minorities, dialogue with civil society, and the promotion of fundamental rights on the ground until his assassination in January 2019.
The award recognises everyone who is inspired by and carry on the legacy of Paweł Adamowicz by working with courage and integrity against intolerance, radicalisation, hate-speech, oppression and xenophobia. In addition, it recognizes those who promote equal opportunities, social integration and fundamental rights
The EPP-CoR Group strongly supported the creation of this award. It provides a recognition for the work of our late colleague Paweł Adamowicz who is an inspiration for all local and regional elected representatives. The EPP-CoR Group strongly encourages its members to nominate individuals or organisations who are active at the local or regional levels. 15 or more full Members of the CoR may collaborate and jointly submit a nomination. Announcement of the winner of the award is planned for December 2021. Further information including the Rules and regulations of the award, Eligibility Criteria, Selection Criteria can be found on the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award - website.
Reacting to the launch of the award, Magdalena Adamowicz, Member of the European Parliament and Paweł Adamowicz’s widow, said: ''Good is quiet, evil is clamorous. Particularly today, amid the din of xenophobia, homophobia, radicalism, nationalism and ubiquitous hate speech, our task must be to find all those who do good and hold them up as an example. This is the purpose of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award. I encourage you from the bottom of my heart: look around and nominate for the award all those who act for other people: their dignity, equality, safety. Good is quiet, but let us speak as loudly as possible about those who do it!''.
The Mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, said: ''The Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award is an important step towards reinforcing the idea of social integration, civic participation, promoting equal opportunities, respecting human rights and civil liberties. The patron of this important award was passionately involved in fighting against prejudice, xenophobia and violence in public life. We sincerely believe that, with their lives and values they cherish, the winners of this Award will creatively fit into the ideals of freedom and solidarity which are so dear to the city where Paweł Adamowicz came from''.
Earlier this year, the CoR launched the award with Olgierd Geblewicz, EPP-CoR President and President of West Pomerania Region describing Adamowicz as "a true European, a true local leader working closely with his citizens and for the citizens".
Background:
Paweł Adamowicz was first elected as Mayor of Gdańsk in 1998, and served the city in that position until 2019. He was stabbed on 13 January 2019 while speaking at a charity event. He died from his injuries the following day. He was 53 years old. His murder was preceded by a rise in hate speech directed at him. His death prompted a debate about the contribution of the degeneration of public discourse to violence, extremism, propaganda and intolerance.
Mr Adamowicz was committed to promoting the EU's fundamental values, and was an active member of the CoR. In 2016, Mayor Adamowicz launched the Gdańsk 'Immigrant Integration Model' after meeting Pope Francis. It has served as a model that has inspired other Polish cities.
More about the life and work of Paweł Adamowicz.