On 23 May 2025, the European Parliament in Strasbourg hosted an unusual event: “Your Europe, your voice for peace”, a festival supported by the network of Rural Family Homes (MFR), bringing together young people from rural areas engaged in active reflection on peace, democracy, inclusion... and freedom. Among the highlights of this European day, the presentation of the Freedom Prize offered a moment of great power, at the crossroads of civic engagement, awareness of human rights and a call to action.
Created by the Normandy Region and supported by theInternational Institute for Human Rights and Peace, Freedom Prize Each year, the award recognizes individuals or organizations that have distinguished themselves in the defense of fundamental freedoms. This prize has a unique feature: it is entirely designed with and for young people. An international youth jury selects three nominees each year, before a major vote is open to all young people worldwide.
At the event at the European Parliament, Paulina, member of the 2025 international jury, came to share her unique experience. She shared the behind-the-scenes insights of this process, highlighting the demands, the richness of the exchanges, and the openness it offers: “Being a jury member means learning to listen, to defend your ideas, and to make a collective choice that makes sense. You come out of it feeling stronger, and above all, you no longer want to remain a spectator.”
Three inspiring figures highlighted
Accompanied by civic service volunteers fromUnited City, the young people present then discovered the three nominees for the 2025 Freedom Prize:
- Gisèle Pélicot (France) – An emblematic figure in the fight against sexual violence, Gisèle Pélicot broke the silence by publicly revealing the gang rapes she suffered while under chemical influence, orchestrated without her knowledge by her husband between 2011 and 2020. In 2024, she chose to renounce anonymity and the closed-door trial to raise awareness and shift the shame from the victims to the aggressors. Her courage and her approach have garnered international recognition, making her a feminist icon and a key voice against the trivialization of rape.
- Melati Wijsen (Indonesia) – Co-founder of the Bye Bye Plastic Bags movement, committed to fighting plastic pollution since adolescence.
- WAPA – War-Affected People's Association (Belgium) – NGO supporting the reintegration of former child soldiers in post-conflict contexts.
Far from a simple presentation, this session was extended by open dialogue spaces, where young people were able to express themselves on what freedom represents for them: its forms, its fragilities, its struggles. In a participatory and caring format, each person was able to discuss what inspires them, what displeases them, or what drives them to act, in an exchange at the youth level and resolutely focused on the future.
The young people were then invited to actively participate in the vote, via the official tool of the European Parliament, to elect the personality of their choice from among the three nominees for the 2025 Freedom Prize. This symbolic, yet meaningful, gesture allowed them to experience in a concrete way the power of a vote, of a collective choice, of a personal commitment in a democratic framework. The vote also took a very concrete form: the 2025 Freedom Prize trophy, created by the young people of the MFR of Cormaranche (Ain), will be transmitted to the winner by the International Institute for Human Rights and Peace.
Attentive institutional listening
This day was also marked by the presence of Bertrand Deniaud, Vice President of the Normandy Region in charge of youth, education and citizenship. His visit, during the restitution of the rural youth plea, allowed a direct exchange between young people and decision-makers on their expectations, their concerns and their concrete proposals for building a freer and more united world. Many thanks to him for his availability and his support for this dynamic led by and for young people.
Because this day is not an end but a starting point, two calls are launched to the entire MFR network and to young people aged 15 to 25:
- Join the international jury of the 2026 Freedom Prize
Each year, 24 young people from France and around the world make up the international jury for the Prize. It's an opportunity to experience something unique, to connect with other committed young people, and to bring a collective decision to the world stage. - Participate in the “Freedom” call for projects
The Freedom Prize also offers a call for educational projects. It is aimed at institutions, associations, and youth organizations wishing to develop awareness-raising or mobilization initiatives around the values of freedom, peace, and human rights.
Workshops, exhibitions, videos, podcasts, debates, artistic creations, local projects... all forms of expression are welcome.
