Restart 2024
International Prize for
Democracy and the rule of law
On Friday, April 12, 2024, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the sponsoring association "Internationaler Demokratiepreis Bonn" launched the "Bonn International Prize for Democracy and the Rule of Law" with the signing of a cooperation agreement. This brings together the State Government's Rule of Law Prize, which has been awarded since 2022, and the Bonn International Democracy Prize, which has been awarded since 2009. Minister and Head of the State Chancellery Nathanael Liminski: "We are joining forces to support courageous democrats in their fight for justice and freedom with a strong prize. In the anniversary year of the constituent session of the First German Bundestag, we are thus creating an award that focuses on Bonn as an international location and the cradle of the first successful democracy in Germany. We are sending out this signal at a time when democracy and the rule of law are coming under pressure worldwide. Freedom and democracy have been declining overall for 17 years. The number of countries in which the situation is deteriorating is greater than the number in which it is improving. This must shake us up. With the new prize, we want to create a moment in which we from all parts of society come together in Bonn to strengthen democracy and the rule of law."
The school competition was
successfully completed.
We congratulate the award winners who were honored at the award ceremony on July 2, 2024 at the German Federal Council in Bonn.
Wilfried Klein, Chairman of the Board of the Bonn International Democracy Prize Association: "The cooperation agreement is a quantum leap for the International Democracy Prize in Bonn. The cooperation with the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Page 2 of 2 expansion of the prize to include the idea of the rule of law will put the prize on a very solid footing. As the prize is also supported by the City of Bonn, it will be able to have a completely new impact on civil society in the coming years, over and above the mere award ceremony. The agreed additional events are therefore very important to us."
The "Bonn International Prize for Democracy and the Rule of Law" is usually awarded annually to recognize and honor special merits in the commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Award winners must have contributed to strengthening and defending the principle of democracy and its prerequisites as well as the principle of the rule of law, in particular the separation of powers and the independence of the courts. Particular attention is paid to individuals whose work has taken place in Europe. The members of the North Rhine-Westphalia state government, the members of the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, the members of the Board of Trustees of the "Bonn International Prize for Democracy and the Rule of Law" and civil society actors can submit nominations for the award. In addition, any natural or legal person can submit proposals. Proposals must be submitted in writing and be comprehensibly justified. A selection committee will advise on the selection of the individual or organization to receive the award.