Detail

Objectives

• This Prize aims to:
  • Recognise exceptional intellectual and/or “in action” leadership shown by a young activist in defending and promoting democracy;
  • Provide the recipient of the prize with support, including through a one-year mentorship with a recognised democracy expert or senior leader;
  • Through appropriate publicity, inspire young people to commit to the advancement of democracy.
• The Prize will highlight actions taken by young people to:
  • foster genuine participation in decision-making;
  • promote peaceful dialogue on divisive political issues; 
  • advance intergenerational exchange on matters related to democracy; 
  • give a real voice to people and communities who have traditionally been excluded from decision-making; 
  • contribute to or advocate for the organisation of free and fair elections and their acceptance; 
  • protect freedom of assembly, freedom of the press and freedom of expression; 
  • garner support for the independence of democratic institutions; or
  • fight for reform in both the public and private sectors to ensure that democracy adapts, develops and survives as the pre-eminent method of government.

Prize Information

• The Prize includes a monetary prize of USD 10,000 and is presented yearly at The Athens Democracy Forum. The Awardee will also be invited to lead in organising a session on youth and democracy at the following year’s Forum.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nominees must be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of nomination. There are no restrictions in terms of nationality, gender, or occupation.

Selection Criteria 

• Impact: The nominee’s actions had a demonstrated outcome, for instance, a change in policy in a given country, the rate of participation in elections, the number of people reached through a specific campaign, the number of users of a specific application, the number of students gaining a wider understanding of the importance of the democratic process, the number of community associations engaged in an educational campaign etc.
• Innovation: The innovative character of these actions.
• Sustainability: Whether the nominee has advanced the cause of democracy and human rights for a sustained period of one year minimum and whether their actions are sustainable over time and replicable in other contexts;
• Values: The values displayed by the nominee through their actions.
• Benefit: The added value the Prize could bring the nominee in terms of international notoriety and support.

For more information, visit Kofi Annan Foundation.