ADL a Zavidovici awarded the 2023 Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award
The Italian human rights organisation Associazione per l’Ambasciata della Democrazia Locale a Zavidovici was proclaimed the laureate of the 2023 Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award for ‘for its assistance to thousands of refugees and also in recognition of its contribution to the promotion of local democracy, non-discrimination, non-violent discourse and integration.’
On 13 January 2024, the winner of the third edition of the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award was announced during a ceremony at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk. The official award ceremony will take place during the 10th European Summit of Regions and Cities in Mons, Belgium, on 19 March 2024.
The laureate ADL a Zavidovici is an organisation based in Brescia, Italy, which was established during the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. It was founded in honour of three pacifists from Brescia who were kidnapped and killed when they were delivering aid to the town of Zavidovići in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since then, ADL a Zavidovici has worked to ‘restore economic dignity and social autonomy for thousands of people who are victims of conflict or persecution around the world’.
Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions, said:
‘Today we honour Mayor Paweł Adamowicz' memory by awarding 'Associazione per l'Ambasciata della Democrazia Locale a Zavidovici' with the 2024 Adamowicz Award. Founded more than 25 years ago, this initiative demonstrates unwavering dedication to human rights, collaborating with municipalities to leave no one behind. The association has been active in offering aid to asylum seekers and refugees and providing solutions for them. We also want to give a special recognition to Alla Myronova, Mayor of Inhulka in Ukraine, in tribute to her unwavering courage and as a symbol of profound solidarity for all Ukrainian Mayors currently in occupied territories. Their actions and courage embody the spirit of Mayor Adamowicz and are an example for us all.’
A special mention was given to one of the other nominees for the award Alla Myronova, Mayor of the Inhulka Municipality, Ukraine for her commitment and work in her community during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and occupation of her municipality.
The Mayor of Gdańsk, Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, said:
‘The city of Gdansk is where the tragedy of World War II began but is also the place where the peaceful revolution of Solidarnosc began. These were ideals in which President Pawel Adamowicz strongly believed. Not only did he believe in them, but he put them into practice with his daily actions. We very much want this ideal of promoting solidarity by people, associations, initiatives, organisations, the commitment to help each other and to stand for democratic values, to continue to be essential and shared throughout Europe.’
The Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award was established to honour political and civil society leaders in their fight against intolerance, oppression, and radicalisation. The Award is a partnership between the European Committee of the Regions, the City of Gdańsk, and ICORN, and was founded in memory of Mayor Paweł Adamowicz of Gdańsk who was assassinated in 2019.
The other shortlisted nominees for the 2023 edition of the award were Nathalie Appéré, the Mayor of Rennes, Anna Dąbrowska, the President of the Homo Faber Association in Lublin, and Federación Nacional de Asociaciones de Mujeres Gitanas Kamira.
Previous winners of The Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award include the Polish Municipality of Michałowo in 2022, and Cologne’s Mayor Henriette Reker who was the award’s first laureate in 2021.
You can find out more about the award, and its eligibility and selection criteria here.
