Saxon Prize for Democracy
The Saxon Prize for Democracy is a prize awarded to initiatives that stand up against right-wing violence, for human rights and the promotion of a democratic civil society.
The initiators of the award are the Amadeu Antonio Foundation , the Freudenberg Foundation and the Sebastian Cobler Foundation.
The Saxon Sponsorship Prize honors practical examples that help to fight right-wing extremism, especially in Saxony. Associations, networks against extremism and racism, youth initiatives, church parishes, schools, student clubs, citizens' groups, companies, businesses and municipalities can apply. The sponsorship award has been awarded since 2007. A jury made up of representatives of the awarding foundations, science, politics, media and art awards two main prizes, endowed with 5,000 euros each and eight recognition prizes (1,000 euros each).
The awards are given to initiatives that strengthen democratic and tolerant everyday culture, deal aggressively with issues such as human rights and the protection of minorities , support victims of extremist and racist violence, support cooperation with schools, municipalities, the police, local companies and church communities or in companies for the creation of one working atmosphere occur, the racism and discrimination outlaws.
In 2010 the AKuBiZ project , which does anti-racist work in the neo-Nazi stronghold of Saxon Switzerland , rejected the award. This was justified with the requirement that the award winners should sign a declaration against extremism. The AKuBiZ would have been obliged to check its alliance partners before working together, which the project rejected with a comparison to the methods of the GDR state security and instead of the current declaration called for a commitment to humanist ideals that are binding on human rights.
The incident led to the Saxon Promotion Prize being awarded in the coming year independently of the Saxon State Ministry. Since 2011, applicants for the Saxon Prize for Democracy do not have to sign any declaration of democracy . Since then, the Free State of Saxony , together with the Frauenkirche Dresden Foundation and the Dresden Cultural Foundation, has awarded Dresdner Bank its own prize, the Saxon Citizen Prize .
Award winners
- 2007: Alliance for Human Dignity - against right-wing extremism in the Mittweida district, Network for Democratic Culture e. V. (Wurzen), School Museum - Workshop for School History Leipzig e. V.
- 2008: Bunte Platte e. V. (Leipzig) and Treibhaus e. V. (Döbeln), special prizes: Civil courage campaign (Pirna) and the AG Market of Cultures (Pirna)
- 2009: Medinetz Dresden e. V. and Roter Stern Leipzig , special award: Hillersche Villa - Soziokultur im Dreiländereck e. V. (Zittau)
- 2010: Alternative culture and education center Saxon Switzerland - AKuBiZ (Pirna) (price not accepted), special price: Bürger.Courage e. V. (Dresden)
- 2011: eyes on e. V. and the Colorful Citizens' Forum for Democracy Limbach-Oberfrohna
- 2012: Alliance Nazi Free! Dresden stands across and the Leipzig refugee initiative Menschen.Wignig
- 2013: Working group asylum seekers Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains and the Socio-Cultural Center Alte Brauerei e. V. from Annaberg-Buchholz
- 2014: Alliance "Bautzen stays colorful - Budyšin wostanje pisany"
- 2015: Citizens' initiative "Show your face" - network for democratic action and Jürgen Opitz , Mayor of Heidenau (local authority award)
- 2016: Refugee Aid Königshain-Wiederau and Theater der Junge Welt , Leipzig
- 2017: RAA Hoyerswerda Ostsachsen eV and RAA Sachsen eV
- 2018: Agenda Alternativ eV, Schwarzenberg / Erzgeb.