Foundation Prize
Laureate 2016
Elisabeth Decrey-Warner
2016 Prize awarded to Elisabeth Decrey-Warner, President and co-founder of the Geneva Call
Thursday 6th October 2016 at 18h30, Victoria Hall, Geneva
On the 6th of October 2016 in the Victoria Hall, Elisabeth Decrey Warner won the Fondation pour Genève Prize. Almost 1000 people were present and amongst them federal and Genevan authorities, the Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, and representants from Geneva’s civil society. This honorary distinction sought to reward the president of the Geneva Call, an organization which aims to increase civilian protection in times of armed conflicts.
Irina Bokova, director general of UNESCO, stated that “I know Elisabeth well, and I’ve measured her impact in difficult situations for many years now. Elisabeth Decrey Warner is a fervent advocate of human rights and dignity, and she is an ambassador for cooperation and peace dialogue – values felt at the heart of Geneva, vibrant in it’s history and amongst it’s citizens.”
In times where armed conflicts are prevalent and civilian populations suffer the brunt of it, the Fondation pour Genève wished to honor a woman who immersed herself in research on militant groups and influenced the dialogue surrounding human rights and civilian loss. “Naturally, it’s an honor to have received such a prize, but if anything it’s a serious motivation to me and everyone who has partnered with the Geneva Call and helped reinforce our line of work. Humanitarian dialogue involving all actors in an armed conflict has never been more imperative, and we are grateful for the recognition that this prize has granted us with” stated Elisabeth Decrey Warner.
The Geneva Call, an organization that was co-founded in 2000, is an NGO aiming to bolster civilian protection during armed conflicts. The Geneva Call is unique in that it comprises dialogue with militant groups which encourages them to adopt and respect humanitarian norms, and to sign peace accords promising to minimize civilian impact.
