European Anti-Discrimination Council
European Citizen Award
The European Citizen Award honors individuals that showed outstanding efforts and perserverence in the fight against discrimination and for human dignity in Europe. Laureates are determined annually by the EAC cabinet from a list of suitable candidates.
Past Laureates
2009: Prof Dr Harald Ege
Prof Dr Harald Ege
Prof Dr Harald Ege is a leading psychologist in the field of workplace harassment (mobbing, straining, bossing). His theories in these fields are revolutionary and he developed effective means of assessing harassment indicators and symptoms. His expert opinions for court cases are much sought after.
Some of his publications
Ege, H. (2002). Mobbing: New perspectives and Results from an Italian Investigation, Pitagora Ed.
Ege, H. (2002). La valutazione peritale del Danno da Mobbing, Giuffrè editore
Ege, H. (2005). Oltre il Mobbing. Straining, Stalking e altre forme di conflittualità sul posto di lavoro,
Franco Angeli s.r.l. editore
For details see his biography in German language:
Diplom: Universität Konstanz (1992)
Zweitdiplom: Universität Bologna (1994)
PhD: Universität Bologna (1998)
Gründer und Präsident der PRIMA Associazione Italiana contro Mobbing e Stress Psicosociale in
Bologna (seit 1996)
Ordentliches Mitglied des EAWOP (European Association of Work- and Organisational Psychology)
seit 1997
Freiberuflicher Psychologe (in Deutschland seit 1999, in Italien seit 2005)
Gründer und Präsident der A.P.E.M. (Associazione Periti ed Esperti di Mobbing) in Florenz (seit
2003)
Gerichtsgutachter (seit 2001)
Gutachter der Staatsanwaltschaft (seit 2002)
Vertragsprofessur: Universität Politecnica delle Marche (seit 2006)
Some of his publications
Ege, H. (2002). Mobbing: New perspectives and Results from an Italian Investigation, Pitagora Ed.
Ege, H. (2002). La valutazione peritale del Danno da Mobbing, Giuffrè editore
Ege, H. (2005). Oltre il Mobbing. Straining, Stalking e altre forme di conflittualità sul posto di lavoro,
Franco Angeli s.r.l. editore
For details see his biography in German language:
Diplom: Universität Konstanz (1992)
Zweitdiplom: Universität Bologna (1994)
PhD: Universität Bologna (1998)
Gründer und Präsident der PRIMA Associazione Italiana contro Mobbing e Stress Psicosociale in
Bologna (seit 1996)
Ordentliches Mitglied des EAWOP (European Association of Work- and Organisational Psychology)
seit 1997
Freiberuflicher Psychologe (in Deutschland seit 1999, in Italien seit 2005)
Gründer und Präsident der A.P.E.M. (Associazione Periti ed Esperti di Mobbing) in Florenz (seit
2003)
Gerichtsgutachter (seit 2001)
Gutachter der Staatsanwaltschaft (seit 2002)
Vertragsprofessur: Universität Politecnica delle Marche (seit 2006)
2008: Dr Adolf Ratzka
Dr Adolf Ratzka
European Citizen Award goes to Stockholm
Laureate is Dr Adolf Ratzka from the Independent Living Institute
One day after Sweden assumed the EU Presidency, Stefan Prystawik, EU Coordinator of the European Anti-Discrimination Council - EAC will come to Stockholm to present the 2008 European Citizen Award to Dr Adolf Ratzka of the Independent Living Institute.
The European Anti-Discrimination Council dedicates its annual European Citizen Award to honor extraordinary achievements with eliminating
discriminatory living conditions over an extended period of time by outstanding members of society. Adolf Ratzka received the award in 2008, honoring his successful initiatives for a self-determined life of persons with disabilities over
many decades.
Silvia Schmidt, Member of the German Parliament and Chargée d’Affaires for Disabled Citizens with the SPD governing coalition
party received the 2007 European Citizen Award. It was also Silvia Schmidt, who originally approached the EAC cabinet, the decision making body on the Citizen Award in London – with the proposal to consider Dr Ratzka for the highest recognition the EAC has to offer.
Following short deliberations it turned out that Dr Ratzka was indeed a European Citizen, in fact a Citizen of the World (although both are not
prerogatives for receiving the award) in short – a person well worth honoring.
Amongst the things he is renowned for, he has been since 1983 Father of the Swedish Independent Living movement by initiating and leading the pilot project on personal assistance which was to become the model for the Swedish Personal Assistance Act of 1994. In recognition of his role in the reform the Minister of Social Affairs at the time, Mr Bengt Westerberg, invited Dr Ratzka to be present in Parliament when the Act was voted into law. Dr Ratzka’s commitment Personal Assistance is the key to Independent Living and 1989 Founding chair of ENIL, the European Network on Independent Living which works for disabled citizens’ personal and political power, for self-determination and against discrimination.
1990-1994 Four years of legal battle, up to the highest court, against the City of Stockholm which refused him and his wife the right to adopt a
child, solely and explicitly on the grounds of his disability. Their victory has been an example and encouragement for dozens of couples in similar circumstances since.
1996-1998 work in the Slovak Republic under a EU PHARE contract for introducing mainstream accessible taxi services and personal assistance in
the country. Both pilot projects impacted the country’s legislation.
1999 recognized by TIME magazine as European visionary for the new millennium mainly for his pioneering work for cash payments replacing
services in kind thereby promoting disabled people’s right to self-determination and freedom of choice.
Since the middle of the 1980s Dr Ratzka has been invited numerous times by organizations, government bodies and universities in over thirty countries in Europe and beyond to lecture, conduct workshops and to cooperate in projects focusing on the requirements for de-institutionalization of persons with disabilities such as accessibility, personal assistance and peer support.
The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, July 2 2009.
Laureate is Dr Adolf Ratzka from the Independent Living Institute
One day after Sweden assumed the EU Presidency, Stefan Prystawik, EU Coordinator of the European Anti-Discrimination Council - EAC will come to Stockholm to present the 2008 European Citizen Award to Dr Adolf Ratzka of the Independent Living Institute.
The European Anti-Discrimination Council dedicates its annual European Citizen Award to honor extraordinary achievements with eliminating
discriminatory living conditions over an extended period of time by outstanding members of society. Adolf Ratzka received the award in 2008, honoring his successful initiatives for a self-determined life of persons with disabilities over
many decades.
Silvia Schmidt, Member of the German Parliament and Chargée d’Affaires for Disabled Citizens with the SPD governing coalition
party received the 2007 European Citizen Award. It was also Silvia Schmidt, who originally approached the EAC cabinet, the decision making body on the Citizen Award in London – with the proposal to consider Dr Ratzka for the highest recognition the EAC has to offer.
Following short deliberations it turned out that Dr Ratzka was indeed a European Citizen, in fact a Citizen of the World (although both are not
prerogatives for receiving the award) in short – a person well worth honoring.
Amongst the things he is renowned for, he has been since 1983 Father of the Swedish Independent Living movement by initiating and leading the pilot project on personal assistance which was to become the model for the Swedish Personal Assistance Act of 1994. In recognition of his role in the reform the Minister of Social Affairs at the time, Mr Bengt Westerberg, invited Dr Ratzka to be present in Parliament when the Act was voted into law. Dr Ratzka’s commitment Personal Assistance is the key to Independent Living and 1989 Founding chair of ENIL, the European Network on Independent Living which works for disabled citizens’ personal and political power, for self-determination and against discrimination.
1990-1994 Four years of legal battle, up to the highest court, against the City of Stockholm which refused him and his wife the right to adopt a
child, solely and explicitly on the grounds of his disability. Their victory has been an example and encouragement for dozens of couples in similar circumstances since.
1996-1998 work in the Slovak Republic under a EU PHARE contract for introducing mainstream accessible taxi services and personal assistance in
the country. Both pilot projects impacted the country’s legislation.
1999 recognized by TIME magazine as European visionary for the new millennium mainly for his pioneering work for cash payments replacing
services in kind thereby promoting disabled people’s right to self-determination and freedom of choice.
Since the middle of the 1980s Dr Ratzka has been invited numerous times by organizations, government bodies and universities in over thirty countries in Europe and beyond to lecture, conduct workshops and to cooperate in projects focusing on the requirements for de-institutionalization of persons with disabilities such as accessibility, personal assistance and peer support.
The awards ceremony took place on Thursday, July 2 2009.
2007: Silvia Schmidt
Dr Stefan Prystawik, Prof Dr Alenfelder, Silvia Schmidt, 20.09.2007
Silvia Schmidt is a member of the German parliament and in charge of the concerns of people with disabilities on behalf of the Social Democrat Group (SPD) in the parliament. She has decades of experience with integration matters both in former East Germany and up to this day. She is a dedicated fighter against any form of discrimination.
See below for her biography in German:
Wahlkreis
See below for her biography in German:
- Geboren am 25. März 1954 in Klostermansfeld, Landkreis Mansfeld-Südharz, Sachsen-Anhalt
- zwei Kinder, zwei Enkelkinder
- Abschluss der zehnklassigen Polytechnischen Oberschule (POS) 1970
- Abschluss als Diplomsozialarbeiterin (FH Potsdam) 1990
- Sozialarbeiterin in der Reha-Klinik Rammelburg mit Zusatzausbildung zur Gesprächspsychotherapeutin
- Studium der Erziehungswissenschaften an der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle/Wittenberg 1996-98
- Bis 1998 Leiterin des Förderpädagogisch- Therapeutischen-Zentrums Wippra in Trägerschaft des Trägerwerk Soziale Dienste (TWSD)
- Seit Mai 1995 Mitglied der SPD
- Seit 1998 Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestages
- Behindertenbeauftragte der SPD-Bundestagsfraktion
- Ordentliches Mitglied im Ausschuss für Arbeit und Soziales des Deutschen Bundestages
- Sprecherin der Begleitgruppe zur Umsetzung der UN-Behindertenrechtskonvention
- Stellvertretendes Mitglied im Ausschuss für Gesundheit des Deutschen Bundestages
- Mitglied der Landesgruppe Ost
- Mitglied der SPD-Arbeitsgruppe Kommunalpolitik
- Stellvertretende Sprecherin der irischen Parlamentariergruppe
- Mitherausgeberin des Debattenmagazins “Berliner Republik”
Wahlkreis
- Beisitzer im Vorstand des SPD-Kreisverbandes Mansfeld-Südharz
- Mitglied des Kreistages Mansfeld-Südharz
- Vereine und Verbände
- Stellvertretende Vorsitzende des Trägerwerk Soziale Dienste e.V. (TWSD)
- Mitglied in zahlreichen Tierschutz- , Feuerwehr- und Fördervereinen aus der Region
- Mitglied der AWO-Parlamentariergruppe und im AWO Ortsverband Mansfeld-Lutherstadt
- Mitglied im bundesweiten verbandsübergreifenden Forum selbstbestimmter Assistenz behinderter Menschen e.V. (ForseA)
- Mitglied im Sozialverband Deutschland (SoVD)
- Mitglied im Parlamentarischen Beirat des Bundesverbandes Deutscher Stiftungen
- Ehrenamtliche Vorsitzende des Fördervereins der Bundesinitiative Daheim statt Heim e.V.
- Mitglied der Industriegewerkschaft Bergbau, Chemie, Energie (IG BCE)
- Ehrenamtliche Vorsitzende der Deutschen Matt Lamb Gesellschaft e.V.
