On October 21, 2021, at the Villa Decius in Krakow, a gala was held for the awarding of the Polish Prize. Sérgio Vieira de Mello, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (2002-2003). This special distinction is awarded to individuals and non-governmental organizations for their activities to protect and promote human rights and to peaceful coexistence and cooperation of societies, religions and cultures.
This year, 19 candidates were nominated for the Prize. Among the nominees there were people and organizations from all over the world, working for human rights and dialogue between religions and cultures, incl. from Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Afghanistan and Indonesia.
By the decision of the Chapter, the Lureates of the 18th edition of the Sérgio Vieira de Mello became:
- Laureate in Person category: dr. Feras Alghadban – Co-Founder & Medical Director at the Endless Medical Advantage. The Laureate received the award from Wiesław Nowak, President of ZUE, Sponsor of the Award.
- Laureate in Non-governmental organisation category: Polish Medical Mission
The award from the hands of Rafał Kostrzyński, the Spokesman of the Polish Representation of the United Nations Agency for Refugees (UNHCR), was received by Ewa Piekarska-Dymus, President of the Polish Medical Mission (PMM) and Małgorzata Olasińska-Chart – Head of Humanitarian Aid Program of the PMM
- Honorary Prize category: Belarusian organizations in Poland and Lithuania.
A group of organization, giving material, visa, legal, psychological, living, rehabilitation help for repressed people on, Belarus after August 2020.
Paweł Radomski, Director of the Department of UN and Human Rights of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland presented the Prize to the representatives of the group of organizations – Anna Krasulina, rep. Swiatlana Cichanouska and Aleś Zarebiuk, President of the Belarusian House Foundation.
The Laureates received a personal Diploma, a statuette of Sergio Vieira de Mello designed by an outstanding Polish artist, Andrzej Renes, and a financial award funded by the Sponsor – Grupa ZUE SA.
