In a statement from the Palau de la Generalitat of Catalonia this afternoon, the President of the Generalitat, Artur Mas, declared Gro Harlem Brundtland and Malal Yousafzai as the winners of the 25th edition of the International Prize, in a unanimous decision by the jury.

 

The President said that the award recognized that both women for standing out "for their determination and courage in the defence of human rights".

 

The jury recognized Gro Harlem Brundtland for her ability to "connect health and the environment, both by directly providing services and through political and strategic action," and praised Malal Yousafzai for "risking her life for the right to education from an early age, in an extremely difficult context."

 

The President added that the Malal’s struggle has captured the international imagination, and that she "inspires the struggle for human rights around the world, helping girls and women to realize their right to education in countries where they are currently denied it.” He went on to say that “Mala is a symbol of great courage, the courage of those who stand up for themselves, even if they have to do so alone.”

 

 

 

This year, the Catalan International Prize (CIP) celebrates its 25th anniversary. Over a quarter of a century, 29 winners have been chosen from among 1,300 submissions from 1,500 institutions worldwide.

 

President Mas stressed that the prize was a "prestigious international award” that, from a Catalan perspective, "made sense when it was first launched, and still has meaning today at a time when our country is in engaged in a number of important international political and social debates”.

The President added that, in line with the government’s strategy to raise Catalonia’s profile abroad, "platforms such as PIC improve our international standing and give us global visibility and prestige."

The President also used his speech to underline that, over its 25 year history, the award has "helped the people of Catalonia to better understand world-renowned figures whose work can improve Catalan society." Therefore, he said, the prize works in two directions: "with this prize we contribute something to the world, but the world also gives us something back; by seeking to understand these prestigious figures, Catalan society can learn and continue to improve.

 

The President also highlighted the key role in the history of the prize played by Baltasar Porcel, Ricardo Bofill, and President Jordi Pujol, the driving forces behind the birth of the CIP. The President was joined by the Deputy Chairman of the Catalonia International Prize, Xavier Rubert de Ventos.

 

Every year, the Catalan International Prize, established in 1989 by the Catalan Government, recognizes those who have made innovative contributions to cultural, scientific or human development ​​around the world. A total of 29 people have received the award, which last year was awarded to the former President of Brazil, Lula da Silva. The prize is 80,000 euros and the sculpture La Clau i La Lletra by Antoni Tàpies.

 

The jury is chaired by the President of the Generalitat, Artur Mas, and composed of experts from the fields of science, economics, arts and culture. The members of this year’s jury are: architect Ricardo Bofill; art critic, Juan Manuel Bonet; writer, art historian and Jordanian ambassador in Italy, Wijdan al-Hashemi; architect, Ricardo Bofill; art critic Juan Manuel Bonet; writer and editor, Josep Maria Castellet; historian, Augustine Colomines; economist and politician, Jacques Delors; soprano, Barbara Hendricks; philosopher, Edgar Morin; diplomat, Ambler Moss; linguist Mary Ann Newman, writer and philosopher Josep Ramoneda; philosopher, Richard Sennett; philosopher Gianni Vattimo; biologist, Anna Veiga; and physicist, Jorge Wagensberg. The President and CEO of the award is Xavier Rubert de Ventos, and the secretary, Theresa Hall.

 

This year there were a total of 166 nominees from 54 countries. The Prize will be awarded on 26 July at 19:00, in a ceremony to be held at Saló Sant Jordi in the Palau de la Generalitat.