French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky were among the recipients of the prestigious Four Freedoms Award at a ceremony in the Netherlands on Thursday.
Bestowed by the Roosevelt Foundation, established in 1982, the awards honour the "Four Freedoms" outlined by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1941 State of the Union address: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.
The Four Freedoms awards are presented annually in the New Church in Middelburg, in the Dutch province of Zeeland, where Roosevelt's ancestors hail from.
Previous winners include Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Germany's former Chancellor Angela Merkel, and organisations including the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
This year, Frenchwoman Pelicot received the Freedom from Fear Award for her calls for societal change and public understanding of sexual violence worldwide.
The 73-year-old became a global feminist icon during the trial of her former husband Dominique Pelicot and dozens of strangers, who were found guilty of raping her while she was drugged unconscious.
Her decision to waive her anonymity and have the trial held publicly was hailed as a courageous act that would encourage other sexual assault survivors to share their stories, placing the shame on the perpetrators instead of the victims.
Gisele Pelicot honoured on Bastille Day for advocacy against sexual violence
'Resolute leadership'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people were jointly awarded the International Four Freedoms Award for "the nation's courage" and resilience in resisting the full-scale invasion of their country by Russia in 2022.
"We pay the highest tribute to the unwavering courage and enduring perseverance of the Ukrainian people and to the steadfast and resolute leadership of their president, Volodymyr Zelensky," Hugo de Jonge, chair of the foundation, said.
Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten paid tribute to Zelensky at the ceremony, saying: “It speaks volumes that you only agreed to accept this award if you could do so on behalf of all the people of Ukraine."
After receiving a standing ovation, Zelensky asked for a moment of silence for the victims of a deadly overnight barrage by Russia which killed at least 16 people and wounded many more.
He called for those responsible for war crimes in Ukraine to be held accountable under international law, saying: “Do not let Russia go unpunished."
Ukraine marks four years of conflict, as losses rise with no end in sight
Security concerns
The Freedom of Speech Award went to the Committee to Protect Journalists for its defence of journalists worldwide.
The international non-profit, made up of around 40 experts, reports violations of press freedom and works to ensure justice prevails when journalists are imprisoned or killed.
The Freedom from Want Award went to Isidora Uribe Silva from Chile. The activist, who has cerebral palsy, has spent years campaigning for inclusion, equal human rights and gender equality.
She says disability should not be seen as a weakness, but a part of society that must be recognised, understood and respected.
Record killing of journalists reveals rising global threat to press freedom
The winner of the Freedom of Worship Award was not announced publicly by the foundation, which cited security concerns for the recipient.
It wrote on its website: "This award serves to underline all the more the vulnerable position of millions of people who cannot freely practise their faith, and emphasises the enduring importance of protecting freedom of religion and belief, particularly in areas where this freedom is under severe pressure."
(with newswires)
