8th Edition Freedom Prize 2026

September
01
12
January
  • The call for application to be a jury member
  • The call for proposals I take part
  • The international panel of judges
  • The vote
  • The results

The Freedom Prize invites young people aged between 15 to 25 years old from France and around the world to choose an inspiring person or organisation, committed to an exemplary fight for freedom.

The 2025 laureate

Gisèle Pélicot

Gisèle Pélicot

Gisèle Pélicot is an emblematic figure in the fight against sexual violence. During the trial of these 51 defendants in 2024, Gisèle Pélicot courageously renounced anonymity and closed-door proceedings, in the hope of shifting the burden of shame from the victims to the aggressors and raising public awareness of sexual assaults under chemical subjection.

The 2024 laureate

Motaz Azaïza

Motaz Azaïza

Motaz Azaïza is a young Palestinian journalist covering the conflict in the heart of Gaza. His campaign for the right to information has made it possible to disseminate information about the conflict and has shed light on the fate of the people affected by this war.

The 2023 laureate

Club des jeunes filles de Guinée

Club des jeunes filles leaders de Guinée

Founded in 2016, this association chaired by Hadja Idrissa Bah campaigns for the rights of women and children in the Republic of Guinea, mainly fighting against forced marriages, sexual violence and genital mutilation.
Application proposed by students from the Agripole high school (Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, 50).
 

The 2022 laureate

Sam Itauma - CRARN - 2022

Child’s Right and Rehabilitation Network / CRARN

Founded in 2003 in Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, Nigeria, CRARN provides medical, psychological and humanitarian support to street children who are discriminated against because of their alleged evil powers. CRARN runs a reception centre and a school where the children can rebuild their lives. Since 2003, CRARN has rescued and assisted more than 8000 children.

The 2021 laureate

Sonita Alizada

Sonita Alizada is a rapper born in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime. At 9 years old, her parents plan to marry her but Sonita and her family leaves the country in order to flee the war. They take refuge in Iran and the marriage is canceled. In Tehran, an NGO gives her access to education and work as a cleaning lady. While listening to a song by the rapper Eminem, Sonita has a revelation and began to write in order to tell her story and denounce forced marriage around the world. Her first song "Brides for sale" becomes a real phenomenon.

The 2020 laureate

Loujain al-Hathloul

Loujain is a 30 years old Saudi woman and a leading figure in peaceful activism for women's rights. She is fighting to end the repressive male guardianship system in her country. Arrested in May 2018 for defying the ban on women driving in the kingdom, she was released on 10 February 2021 after 1001 days in prison. She is still in conditionnal release and subject to house arrest.

The 2019 laureate

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is a young Swedish woman known for her fight against the lack of awareness, the inaction of heads of states and governments concerning the climate emergency. She missed school every Friday to demonstrate in front of the Stockholm Parliament and launched the “Fridays For Future” movement. Greta Thunberg notably spoke at COP24, in December 2018 in Katowice (Poland), and at the Davos Economic Forum (Switzerland), in early 2019.

The call for proposals

“Our Freedom Prize 2026”

Young people aged 15-25 are invited to present the person or organisation whose fight for freedom they wish to make known, using the online form.

This is the most crucial stage of the Freedom Prize!

To participate in this call for applications, you just need to propose, as a group, the person or organization of your choice and defend their recent fight for freedom. The Freedom Prize can be a person or an organization, known to the media or unknown. He/she must have carried out at least one concrete action in the last three years.

It is up to you to make your choice and find the right arguments. One of the proposals will be awarded the Freedom Prize!

The call for proposals is open from septembre 1st 2025 to january 12th 2026 !

I take part !

The international panel of judges

The international panel of judges of the Freedom Prize aims to study all the proposals "Our Freedom Prize".

They collectively determine the three people or organizations whose fights are, in their opinion, the most representative of a fight for freedom.

Composed of 24 young people aged 15 to 25, from Normandy, other Regions of France and all continents, it aims to be representative in its diversity of international youth.

It is essential to be able to express yourself orally and in writing in French or English (your choice). It is not necessary to have participated in similar schemes, but the motivation of the candidate is particularly taken into account.

The call for applications is closed.

Ressources

The nominees in 2025

Melati Wijsen

Melati
Wijsen

Indonesia
Right to live in a healthy and sustainable environment & right to participate
Discover the portrait

If you encounter any technical difficulties during the voting process, please write to prixliberte@normandie.fr