From June 2018, the Normandy Region, in partnership with the academic authorities and the International Institute of Human Rights and Peace, will create a new international peace, freedom and human rights education scheme: the Freedom Prize.

Focused on the meaning and values of the Allied landings, the Freedom Prize gives young people all over the world the opportunity to choose an exemplary public figure or organization, committed to the fight for freedom. Moreover, the Freedom Prize pays homage to all those who fought and continue to fight for this ideal.

It is an educational initiative in 3 stages which encourages young people’s involvement throughout the entire process, either as part of their education and training or in their own time. As part of its educational aim, focused on remembrance, the Freedom Prize can also be part of teachers’ and trainers’ educational projects, responding to the various objectives of the school curriculum and adapting easily to multidisciplinary work.

It consists of activities which could encourage educational projects to be coordinated by teachers and tutors.

Award

The winner of the Freedom Prize will be chosen from the three finalists chosen by the panel of judges, after a digital vote.

The Prize includes prize money of €25,000 for the winner. The winner of the Freedom Prize or one of his/her representatives will be invited to the prize-giving ceremony for the Freedom Prize which will be held in Normandy in June 2019 as part of the Normandy World Peace Forum.

General Scope 

1. Purpose – The Freedom Prize will see young people from all over the world nominating and choosing a distinguished public figure or organization and their recent commitment to the fight for freedom. The purpose of these rules is to establish the principles of the Freedom Prize.
2. Audience & Eligibility – These young people can participate in the Freedom Prize in three different ways:
   – As a group (stage 1): By nominating a candidate, following the terms and conditions established in Articles 5 to 12;
   – Individually (stage 2): By participating in the panel of judges, following the terms and conditions established in Articles 13 to 17;
   – On-line (stage 3): By voting for one of the finalist candidates, following the terms and conditions established in Articles 18 and 19
3. Stages – The stages and sequence of events related to the Freedom Prize will take place over a year, from June 2018 to June 2019. It is organized around the following stages:
   – Stage 1, from June 2018 to January 2019: Candidates are to be nominated for the Freedom Prize by means of applications;
   – Stage 2, February 2019: Three finalist candidates are to be chosen by a panel of young judges from the applications received;
   – Stage 3, March 2019: An online vote to choose the winner of the Freedom Prize from three finalist candidates is to be held;
   – Stage 4, June 2019: The prize-giving ceremony of the Freedom Prize is to be held at the closing event. The terms and conditions for each of these stages are detailed in the following articles.
4. Irrevocability – From receiving application forms to announcing the winner of the Freedom Prize, all selection decision made by the organizers and the panel of judges and the results of the online vote will be considered to be irrevocable and cannot be appealed.

Important dates

1. A call for applications to nominate public figures or organizations from 6 June 2018 to 15 January 2019
2. A panel of judges to choose three finalist candidates 8 and 9 February 2019
3. A digital vote to choose the winner From 27 to 31 March 2019