Max van der Stoel Award

The Max van der Stoel Award is presented by the Government of the Netherlands every two years. It honours the memory of distinguished Dutch statesman and the first OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel (seen here in Vukovar, Croatia). (OSCE) Photo details

Every two years, the High Commissioner on National Minorities and the Government of the Netherlands organize the Max van der Stoel Award. The prize of €50,000 is presented to a person, group or institution for extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities in the OSCE participating States.

A special jury composed of distinguished experts of international repute and chaired by the High Commissioner chooses the winner of the Max van der Stoel Award. Only OSCE institutions, field missions and delegations of the OSCE participating States may nominate candidates directly. Others can propose an eligible candidate by contacting their local OSCE mission, a delegation to the OSCE or one of the OSCE institutions: they will decide whether to nominate the proposed candidate. Eligible candidates include international organizations, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, government bodies or individuals with a record of excellence in the field of improving the position of national minorities in the OSCE area. For more information, see the factsheet.

Winners of the Max van der Stoel award:

2024 - Natur og Ungdom, Norway

2022 - Social Justice Center, Georgia

2020 - Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, Dublin, Ireland

2018 - The high school students from the municipality of Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina

2016 - The Association for Historical Dialogue and Research, Nicosia, Cyprus

2014 - Spravedlivost, Jalal-Abad, Kyrgyzstan

2011 - The Nansen Dialogue Centre Skopje, North Macedonia

2009 - Integration and Development Centre for Information and Research, Ukraine

2007 - European Roma Rights Centre, Hungary

2005 - “Memorial” International Historical Enlightenment, Human Rights and Humanitarian Society, Russian Federation

2003 - Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies, Latvia