“All human beings are born free and equal...”

Within the framework of the funding programme International Journalism Compe-tition, the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” is announcing for the second time a Journalism Prize in 2008. To mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2008, the competition this year is focusing on press articles that take an in-depth look at Article 1 of the Declaration. The competition is open to journalists from Belarus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the USA.

Theme

On 10 December 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was the international community’s answer to the crimes committed under National Socialism and the brutal violence of the Second World War. Since that time, human rights - as the universal and inalienable rights of each individual - have become more widely accepted, recognised and respected. Nevertheless, the interpretation and enforcement of human rights remain controversial issues.

This is especially true of Article 1 of the Declaration:

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

This statement underscores each person’s entitlement to rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Conditions

Journalists between the ages of 18 and 35 can enter the Journalism Competition 2008 by submitting an example of their work on the theme “All human beings are born free and equal...”. The articles should have been published in a newspaper, magazine or Internet magazine in the applicant’s country of origin not before 2007 and not later than the deadline for applications on 31 July 2008. In cases of exception, non-published articles may also be considered. The articles may be written in the local language, and the text must be submitted in its original form. The published version of the text, or at least a photocopy of this version, should be attached. Any appropriate photographs should also be submitted. Academic publications are not eligible for inclusion.

Prizes

Groups of independent jurors will choose the best articles in the different language categories. The first-place prizes are each worth EUR 2,000, second-place prizes EUR 1,000, and third-place prizes EUR 500. The award-winning entries will appear in a German-language publication. The prizes will be handed over at an awards ceremony in Berlin in December 2008.

Applications

The deadline for applications to the Journalism Competition is 31 July 2008. The documents must reach the Foundation by this date. Please send the complete documentation by post to the address below. You may also inform us by email of your application at the same time. The application documents must be prepared in German, English or Russian. Your press article can be submitted in the local language – a translation is not required. With your written application, please enclose:
* a brief letter explaining the reasons for your interest in this theme,
* the completed application form (see below),
* an informative curriculum vitae in tabular form,
* your press article on this theme (in local language),
* print-quality photographs, if available,
* the original print version of the publication if possible,
* two additional samples of your published work (copies will suffice).

You will find information and the competition application form in German, English and Russian on the website of the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” (www.stiftung-evz.de; see “International Journalism Competition”).

The Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future”

The Foundation has a long-term mandate to support international projects that promote cooperation in a spirit of partnership between Germany and countries which suffered particular hardship under National Socialism. Out of the revenues envisaged for project support that are generated by its start capital of EUR 358 million, the Foundation channels around EUR 8 million each year into projects, primarily in the following three focus areas:
* A critical examination of history
* Working for democracy and human rights
* Humanitarian assistance for survivors of National Socialist dictatorship

In June 2007, the Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future” concluded the payments to former forced labourers. A total of EUR 4.37 billion was paid out to more than 1.66 million people in almost 100 countries. When the Foundation was established in 2000, DM 10.1 billion in start capital was made available in equal amounts by the Foundation Initiative of German Industry and the German Federal Government.

Foundation “Remembrance, Responsibility and Future”
International Journalism Competition

Veronika Sellner
Programme Manager

Markgrafenstrasse 12-14
10969 Berlin
Germany
Office hours: Monday – Wednesday from 10 am to 5 pm
Phone: +49-(0)30-25 9297 49
Fax: +49-(0)30-25 9297 39

Email: sellner@stiftung-evz.de
Website: www.stiftung-evz.de