The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE). A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in December at plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, is the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2019.

The finalists were:

°Murdered Brazilian political activist and human rights defender Marielle Franco, Native Brazilian leader and environmentalist Chief Raoni and Brazilian environmentalist and human rights defender Claudelice Silva dos Santos °The Restorers, a group of five students from Kenya - Stacy Owino, Cynthia Otieno, Purity Achieng, Mascrine Atieno and Ivy Akinyi - who have developed i-Cut, an app to help girls deal with female genital mutilation (FGM) °Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority

Sakharov Prize 2019

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority

Jewher ILHAM daughter of Ilham Tohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate

David SASSLOI, EP President meets with Jewher ILHAM daughter of the 2019 Sakharov Prize laureat

Jewher ILHAM, daughter of Ilham Tohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate

EP Plenary session - - Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Jewher ILHAM daughter of the 2019 Sakharov Prize laureat

Seminar for journalists - Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought - Meeting with the finalists of Sakharov Prize 2019

This infoclip is a part of the video series called "European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024)", demonstrating Parliament's unwavering commitment to human rights and democracy around the globe. Since 1988, Parliament’s Sakharov Prize recognises individuals, groups and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to protecting freedom of thought in the world. The info clip shows illustrative material related to the five Sakharov Laureates of the 9th legislative term, namely Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, the democratic opposition in Belarus, Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist and political prisoner Alexei Navalny, the brave people of Ukraine as well as Jina Mahsa Amini and the Woman, Life, Freedom Movement in Iran.

European Parliament’s priorities and achievements (2019-2024): Support to democracy and human rights activities

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Jewher Ilham, the daughter of Sakharov Prize laureate Ilham Tohti. Arrival, welcome and roundtable. Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, is the winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2019. In 2014, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on separatism-related charges. Despite this, he remains a voice of moderation and reconciliation. Since 2017, more than one million Uyghurs have been detained in a network of internment camps.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President receives Jewher Ilham, the daughter of Sakharov Prize laureate Ilham Tohti

Jewher Ilham and David SASSOLI, EP President, give a joint press conference after the award ceremony of the Sakharov Prize organised during the plenary session (16-19 December 2019) in Strasbourg. Mr Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize, who is currently imprisoned for life in China on separatism-related charges, is represented by his daughter Jewher Ilham. She made a statement and received the prize from David SASSOLI, EP President.

Press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President and Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize

Live replay of the EP plenary sitting in Strasbourg, 16th until 19th December. Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 - Opening remark by David SASSOLI, EP President.

Plenary session: Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 - Opening remark by David SASSOLI, EP President (12.06 - 12.13)

The European Parliament organises a seminar with journalists and Jewher Ilham daughter of Ilham Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate, in Strasbourg and also the other finalists.

EP Journalists Seminar with the laureate's daughter and the finalists of the 2019 Sakharov Prize: extracts from the seminar

Jewher Ilham, daughter of IlhamTohti, speaks to the press on the occasion of the Sakharov Prize 2019 awarded to her father, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Interview of Jewher Ilham, daughter of IlhamTohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate on the occasion of the Sakharov Prize 2019 awarded to her father, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Live replay of the EP plenary sitting in Strasbourg, 16th until 19th December. Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 - Award of the prize

Plenary session: Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 - Award of the Prize (12.32 - 12.35)

Ilham Tohti, advocate of China's Uyghur minority and human rights activist, currently imprisoned for life in China, is awarded the 2019 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by David SASSOLI, EP President, during the plenary session (16-19 December 2019) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2019 (T)

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