Human rights prize : for a more peaceful and just world

"The awarding of a human rights prize is an appropriate act to express the ethical responsibility of the sciences for a more peaceful and just world." With these words, the University of Graz announced the establishment of a human rights prize in 1991. Thirty-three years later, the rationale is more important than ever.

Simon Wiesenthal received it in 1994 for his fight for the rights of Jewish victims of National Socialism and the investigation of Nazi crimes. Conductor Daniel Barenboim received it in 2011 for his artistic and political work for peace in the Middle East. And Volker Türk, now UN High Commissioner, received it in 2016 for his work to protect people fleeing their homes.

The University of Graz honoured these and other personalities with its Human Rights Award. The University of Graz award is presented to individuals or institutions that have made an outstanding contribution to the realisation of human rights. Such as the International Platform for Belarus, which will receive the University of Graz Human Rights Award on 22 March 2024. The association is being honoured for its activities in exposing serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.

"Even though we face many challenges today, there are many opportunities to make the world a more just and inclusive place. Through dialogue, cooperation and commitment, we can realise the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and create a world in which everyone can live in dignity and freedom," emphasises Rector Peter Riedler.

The Human Rights Award is presented at irregular intervals and is decided by the Senate.

Andreas Schweiger

Related news

Surprise, spectacle, science: Astrophysicists observed a partial solar eclipse

The star of the show was the sun, and the programme featured a natural spectacle: the partial solar eclipse on the evening of 12 August 2026 drew crowds to Graz’s Schloßberg. The ‘sun-downer’ was accompanied by a dash of science from astrophysicists at the University of Graz.

Discussions on Europe’s digital future are taking place in Graz

Exactly three months before the event, the Technology Impact Summit (TIS) team is unveiling the programme for this year’s think tank event.

Preserving cultural heritage: Graz researchers make Roman inscriptions legible again

Researchers from the University of Graz and Graz University of Technology are working to save inscriptions carved in stone in Styria during Roman times from disappearing. They have developed a simple and cost-effective method to make inscriptions on tombs and votive altars – which have been weathered or damaged – legible again. They are currently testing the method on Roman stones at several sites across Styria. The aim is to provide other historians with a tool to preserve cultural heritage when expensive research equipment is not available. The method was recently published in the research journal Heritage Science.

A sign of freedom and democracy: University of Graz awards human rights prize to IAPB

The University of Graz awards its Human Rights Prize to the International Accountability Platform for Belarus for its crucial work in documenting serious human rights violations in Belarus. A clear signal for justice and a democratic Europe.