Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre from Ireland named winner of the 2020 Max van der Stoel Award

THE HAGUE, 9 July 2020 – Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre from Ireland has been selected as the winner of the 2020 Max van der Stoel Award. The Award recognizes its efforts to strengthen the genuine integration of Ireland’s society by advocating and protecting the rights of the Traveller and Roma communities.

In Ireland, the Roma and Traveller communities have suffered a long history of multiple and intersectional discrimination. Both communities experience poverty, unemployment, lack of educational opportunity, decreased life expectancy, cultural bias and social stereotyping.

Since its foundation in 1985, the Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre has recognized the need for solidarity between Roma and Irish Traveller communities based on their shared experiences of racism and social exclusion.

Commenting on its decision, the international Jury, chaired by OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier, stated:

“This non-governmental organization (NGO) courageously and continuously seeks to celebrate the cultures and traditions of both communities in an inclusive manner by advocating for participation, social justice and genuine equality at the regional, national and international levels. Pavee Point supports the integration of Ireland’s diverse society through education and healthcare initiatives, and works to combat violence against women and support participation in programmes that bridge economic and societal inequalities. In addition, Pavee Point raises awareness within broader society of the fundamental rights of Roma and Travellers, and works to eradicate negative stereotypes and discrimination of these communities, including of women and children. In promoting the status of Travellers, Pavee Point successfully lobbied the Republic of Ireland to extend official legal recognition for this community as a minority ethnic group in March 2017.”

The Jury’s official justification added: “The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed how persistent societal inequalities have left many vulnerable communities in an even more precarious situation. Pavee Point has been actively involved in various initiatives, including co-operating with national authorities, to mitigate the negative implications of the pandemic for the Roma and Traveller communities.”

The Award – named after the distinguished Dutch statesman and first OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel, – in the amount of 50,000 euros was established by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2001. It is awarded biennially to an individual, group or institution in recognition of extraordinary and outstanding achievements aimed at promoting integration and social cohesion in the OSCE participating States.

The Award ceremony will take place in The Hague on 16 November 2020, in accordance with local COVID-19 measures related to gatherings prevailing at the time.