Italian NGO 'Ambasciata della Democrazia Locale' wins Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award for helping victims of conflict

Page Content

​Local defenders of democracy receive the award in recognition of promoting non-discrimination and the acceptance and integration of refugees

On the 5th anniversary of the assassination of the Mayor of Gdańsk, the Ambasciata della Democrazia Locale a Zavidovići, Brescia, Italy, was honoured with the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award for its work in restoring economic dignity and social autonomy for thousands of people who are victims of conflict or persecution around the world. The award, which was created to promote the legacy of Mayor Paweł Adamowicz, was announced at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk on 13 January and will be presented at the10^thEuropeanSummit of Regions and Cities in Mons, on 19 March.

Awarded for the third time, the prize was established by the European Committee of the Regions in cooperation with the City of Gdańsk and the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN). The award is presented to local leaders - in politics or in civil society - fighting intolerance, radicalisation, hate speech and xenophobia. It acknowledges the work of all elected representatives, officials, organisations and ordinary citizens who, despite the risks, seek to make democracy work at the local level, supporting better and more open communities. As part of the inter-institutional cooperation to promote the Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award, this year for the first time Members of the European Parliament were also able to nominate candidates for the award.

The award was given to the Associazione per l'Ambasciata della Democrazia Locale a Zavidovići (ADL) 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. The association, which was created during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is an example of how the determination to defend human rights must involve civil society, local and international authorities and all citizens. It was founded to honour and build on the legacy of 3 pacifists from Brescia who were kidnapped and killed in 1993 while bringing humanitarian aid to Zavidovici in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through its efforts to promote the acceptance and inclusion of "the Other", whoever they are and from whatever country they come from, the ADL invests in the development of a resilient, welcoming and inclusive community.

The jury also decided to award a special mention to Alla Myronova, Mayor of the municipality of Inhulka in the Mykolaiv region of Ukraine, who has carried out numerous projects over 20 years, actively fighting for her community during the Russian occupation. During the full-scale invasion, Ms Myronova showed resilience and courage and stood up for her municipality against the Russian invaders, protecting both municipal facilities and residents, and delivering humanitarian aid, including food, to the residents of the Inhulka municipality. Despite repeated interrogations by the occupying forces trying to obtain information about Ukrainian defenders, Ms Myronova remained in constant contact with the Ukrainian military, providing critical and timely information about the movement and activities of enemy troops.

The celebrations on the 5th anniversary of the assassination of the President of Gdansk will be held for the first time on a state character. The Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award Ceremony will take place on 19 March in Mons, in Belgium, at the 10^thEuropean Summit of Regions and Cities.

The other shortlisted nominees were (in alphabetical order):

• Nathalie Appéré, Mayor of Rennes (France). Mayor Appéré's achievements of promoting integration, inclusivity and humanistic values extend beyond her local leadership, exemplified by her recognition as the second-best mayor in the world by the City Mayors Foundation in 2018.
  

• Anna Dąbrowska, President of the Board Homo Faber Association (Stowarzyszenie Homo Faber), is a dedicated activist for refugee integration, leading the Homo Faber Association and initiating the 'Baobab' community centre in Lublin (Poland), creating a vital space in which new new and old residents can meet.
  

• Federación Nacional de Asociaciones de Mujeres Gitanas Kamira, a national federation of Roma women's associations in Spain, was founded in 1999 and comprises 23 associations across eight autonomous communities. The organisation focuses on promoting freedom, solidarity, and equality of the Roma community.
  

Quotes:

The President of the European Committee of the Regions, Vasco Alves Cordeiro, 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."

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 others and to stand for democratic values, to continue to be essential and shared throughout Europe.

Chair of CoR Commission for Citizenship, Governance, Institutional and External Affairs (CIVEX), Patrick Molinoz, said: "On this 5th anniversary of the assassination of Paweł Adamowicz, former Mayor of Gdansk and CoR member, the European Committee of the Regions reiterates its full commitment to continuing supporting the Award keeping alive his legacy of courage and excellence in the promotion of freedom, solidarity and equality."

MEP Magdalena Adamowicz said: It is very puzzling that we have to specially recognise people, individuals, institutions, for wanting to be good, for helping others, for defending the weakest among us. That's why I'm very happy that this initiative came into being, that for the third time we can specifically recognise these people, because it's very hard for them, to encourage others, to show something that should be obvious as an example, as a recognition, that it's a very simple, very basic, human thing: To be good, to respect each others, to share what we have, not what we are short of, to extend a helping hand, to simply give a bit of time and, most importantly, to smile at other people. (...) Especially today, on the fifth anniversary of what happened, let us remember that only with good, with a good words, with respect, can we change reality.

More information:

Paweł Adamowicz was stabbed on 13 January 2019 while speaking at a charity event. His murder was preceded by a rise in hate speech directed at him. His last words, uttered just before he was attacked, were: "Gdańsk is generous, Gdańsk shares its good, Gdańsk wants to be a city of solidarity. This is a wonderful time to share the good. You are loved. Gdańsk is the most wonderful city in the world. Thank you!" Mr Adamowicz was committed to promoting the EU's fundamental values, and was an active member of the European Committee of the Regions.

The former laureates are the Mayor of Cologne (Germany), Henriette Reker, and the Mayor of Michałowo (Poland), Marek Nazarko, while a Special Recognition award was given for the first time in January 2023, to the Mayor of Hola Prystan in Ukraine, Oleksandr Babich, who was abducted and remains imprisoned by the Russian occupiers.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR), as the political assembly of local and regional representatives in the EU and on the initiative of the Polish delegation to the CoR, unanimously adopted a resolution on 7 February 2019 condemning hate speech and threats of all kinds against political leaders. The CoR, at its plenary session on 30 November 2022, adopted recommendations in support of the European Commission's proposals to add hate speech and hate crimes to the list of offences recognised in EU policy via opinion on "Extending the list of EU crimes to hate speech and hate crimes" - drafted by Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, who succeeded Paweł Adamowicz as Mayor of Gdańsk.

The commemoration of the 5th anniversary of the assassination of Mayor Paweł Adamowicz started on Friday, 12 January and will last until Sunday, 14 January. For the first time, a state-level commemoration will be held in honour of Mayor Adamowicz, at 7 p.m. on 13 January, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk in attendance. As part of the celebrations, there will be an announcement of the winner Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk on 13 January 2024 from 4-5 p.m. The proclamation can be followed onlinehere.

The prize will be formally awarded during the 10^th European Summit of Regions and Cities on 19 March in Mons, in Belgium. You can register already here.

Websitewith information about Paweł Adamowicz and the anniversary of his assassination

Mayor Paweł Adamowicz Award - website:#AdamowiczAward

Pictures from the Ceremony in Gdańsk

Contact:

European Committee of the Regions

Wioletta Wojewodzka

Tel. +32 (0)2 282 2289

Mobile: +32 (0)473 843 986

[email protected]

City of Gdańsk

Maciej Buczkowski

Tel.: + 48 58 323 62 84

[email protected]