2007 winner
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen (left) presents the 2007 Max van der Stoel Award to Vera Egenberger and Dzavit Berisa of the European Roma Rights Centre, The Hague, 16 October 2007. (OSCE) Photo details
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) from Hungary won the 2007 Max van der Stoel award. Since its establishment in 1996, the NGO has put Roma equality issues firmly on the agenda in Europe and beyond. The ERRC has lobbied on behalf of Roma at international forums, successfully defended Roma rights in a number of landmark legal cases both internationally and in individual States, called for an end to segregation of Roma in schools, sought justice for Roma victims of hate crime and coercive sterilization, campaigned for adequate housing and advocated for Romani women’s rights.