Social Justice Center from Georgia receives the 2022 Max van der Stoel Award

THE HAGUE, 24 November 2022 - “Georgia’s policies for ethnic minorities are evidence of the authorities’ efforts to shoulder their responsibilities and improve legislative and institutional frameworks. Thanks to these efforts, Georgia has been acclaimed as a forerunner among the post-Soviet countries. However, regions with predominantly ethnic minority populations continue to suffer from the lack of basic social infrastructure,” said Tamta Mikeladze, Director of Equality Policy Programme at the Social Justice Center.

Addressing representatives from governments, civil society and international organizations who attended the award ceremony, Kamran Mammadli, Researcher at the Social Justice Center, said, “We, the Georgian people, are in a unique moment of history where we can find our strength in solidarity. We are a diverse country that can make diversity work by cultivating inter-ethnic and inter-religious solidarity among various groups.”

They received the 2022 Max van der Stoel Award on behalf of the Social Justice Center at a ceremony at the Peace Palace in The Hague today.

“To make this happen,” Mammadli continued, “we need support for underrepresented, marginalised and oppressed groups. At the same time, we should work on raising the awareness of the dominant group about minorities. We, as an organization, and I, as a researcher, as a community organizer, as an ordinary citizen, do our best to build a better Georgia, where every person shares the idea that strength is in solidarity.”

Mikeladze added, “Activists with ethnic minority backgrounds, working tirelessly to build community centres, form self-organized groups, demanding respect for their dignity, rights and citizenship, give us hope. They have also proven their unwavering solidarity towards their fellow citizens regardless of ethnicity or disadvantaged groups faced by injustice, and by doing so, create the invaluable experience of active citizenship and political participation.”

Presenting the award, the Dutch Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra said, “Civil society organizations persistently advocate for social change and minority rights. They advance public debate and spur governments to action. They fight to make sure that people are not left behind, and that important social issues are not forgotten. By doing all these things, NGOs form an essential bridge between the ideal of human rights, and the political act of making them a lived reality. Therefore, it is often the existence and liveliness of civil society that demonstrates the health and vitality of democracies. This is the immense value of groups like the Social Justice Center, which we honour today.”

Speaking on behalf of the jury, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) Kairat Abdrakhmanov explained: “Since its foundation in 2012, the Social Justice Center has been working towards long-term political and socio-economic transformation in Georgia by giving a voice to minority ethnic and religious groups and supporting their interests. It does so with a particular emphasis on youth and women, and through programmes such as the Social Policy Programme, the Equality Policy Programme and the Justice and Democracy Programme. This has resulted in community organizations and campaigns to promote minority rights.”

Abdrakhmanov added: “I think it is important to come together not only to recognise the work of, but also see the value in, working together with entities and individuals that celebrate diversity and inclusion to build cohesive and resilient societies for peace and security of everyone, including national minorities.”

Georgia’s Ambassador to the Netherlands David Solomonia said, “Full-fledged integration of ethnic minorities, supporting cultural diversity, and ensuring a safe and tolerant environment are the main pillars of the government’s policy. In this important journey, we also count on the contribution and engagement of civil society and NGOs, as we have created a vibrant environment and various platforms for this endeavour.”

The Max van der Stoel Award –  a prize of €50,000 – has been organized by the HCNM and sponsored by the Dutch Foreign Ministry every two years since 2003. It is presented to a person, group or institution, in recognition of their extraordinary and outstanding achievements in improving the position of national minorities across the OSCE countries.

Max van der Stoel was appointed as the first OSCE HCNM in 1992 and served eight and a half years in the post. He was twice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and held seats in both the upper and lower houses of the Dutch Parliament. He served as Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations and was awarded the honorary title of Minister of State by the then Queen Beatrix.

Event material can be found here.