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Nawal Saadawi Receives the North-South Prize

The Council of Europe was highly represented at the official Award Ceremony of the North-South Prize 2004 with the presence in Lisbon of M. Peter Schieder, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and Mrs Maud de Boer Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The North-South Prize was awarded by the Speaker of the Portuguese Parliament to Dr. Nawal El Saadawi, Egyptian writer and Mr Stephane Hessel, Ambassador of France, in the Senate Room of the Portuguese Assembly, in Lisbon at 11.00, on 25 October 2004.

The North-South Prize was awarded for the first time on 2 May 1995. Each year, the prize is awarded to two public figures who distinguised themselves through their deep commitment to protection of human rights, defence of pluralist democracy and North-South partnership and solidarity, or through an outstanding achievement in these spheres and/or an initiative which looks promising. Achievements may be of a cultural, institutional or political nature. The Prize goes to one person from the South and one from the North who fulfil these criteria.

Dr. Nawal El Saadawi is a psychiatrist, researcher, feminist writer, and is also a member of the Association "Arab Women Solidarity Organisation." She has published many works which have been translated into many languagues. Her commitment has earned her imprisonment in her country and exile in the United States.

Ambassador Stephane Hessel is a well known figure in France and around the world for his efforts to promote peace (in particular in Burundi) and for the protection of the poor as is shown through his work in favour of paperless people in his own country.