The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, is awarded each year by the European Parliament. It was set up in 1988 to honour individuals and organisations defending human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Each nominee must have the support of at least 40 MEPs, and each individual Member may support only one nominee. Signed nominations accompanied by supporting evidence are then assessed in a joint meeting of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE). A shortlist of three candidates is drawn up through a vote by AFET and DEVE committees, and then submitted to the Conference of Presidents for a final vote. The winner is announced in October, and the award ceremony takes place in December at plenary sitting in Strasbourg.

Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, is the winner of the Sakharov Prize 2019.

The finalists were:

°Murdered Brazilian political activist and human rights defender Marielle Franco, Native Brazilian leader and environmentalist Chief Raoni and Brazilian environmentalist and human rights defender Claudelice Silva dos Santos °The Restorers, a group of five students from Kenya - Stacy Owino, Cynthia Otieno, Purity Achieng, Mascrine Atieno and Ivy Akinyi - who have developed i-Cut, an app to help girls deal with female genital mutilation (FGM) °Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority

Sakharov Prize 2019

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Jewher Ilham, the daughter of Sakharov Prize laureate Ilham Tohti. Arrival, welcome and roundtable. Ilham Tohti, an Uyghur economist fighting for the rights of China’s Uyghur minority, is the winner of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2019. In 2014, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on separatism-related charges. Despite this, he remains a voice of moderation and reconciliation. Since 2017, more than one million Uyghurs have been detained in a network of internment camps.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President receives Jewher Ilham, the daughter of Sakharov Prize laureate Ilham Tohti

Restrictions: ©The material is offered for the purpose of providing information in the framework of the Sakharov Prize award ceremony and must be broadcast entirely!

Clip: Sakharov Prize 2019 - Ilham Tohti, advocate of China's Uyghur minority

Visit of Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate, to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Arrival, welcome by David SASSOLI, EP President, and handshake. Ilham Tohti, advocate of China's Uyghur minority and human rights activist, currently imprisoned for life in China, is awarded the 2019 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate: arrival and handshake

Jewher Ilham, daughter of IlhamTohti, speaks to the press on the occasion of the Sakharov Prize 2019 awarded to her father, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Interview of Jewher Ilham, daughter of IlhamTohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate on the occasion of the Sakharov Prize 2019 awarded to her father, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Live replay of the EP plenary sitting in Strasbourg, 16th until 19th December. Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 - Award of the prize

Plenary session: Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 - Award of the Prize (12.32 - 12.35)

The European Parliament organises a seminar with journalists and Jewher Ilham daughter of Ilham Tohti, 2019 Sakharov Prize laureate, in Strasbourg and also the other finalists.

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Sakharov Prize 2019

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Roberta METSOLA, EP President receives Jewher Ilham, the daughter of Sakharov Prize laureate Ilham Tohti

Clip: Sakharov Prize 2019 - Ilham Tohti, advocate of China's Uyghur minority

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Jewher Ilham, daughter of Ilham Tohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate: arrival and handshake

Interview of Jewher Ilham, daughter of IlhamTohti, Sakharov Prize 2019 laureate on the occasion of the Sakharov Prize 2019 awarded to her father, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Plenary session: Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 - Award of the Prize (12.32 - 12.35)

EP Journalists Seminar with the laureate's daughter and the finalists of the 2019 Sakharov Prize: extracts from the seminar

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Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference

Award of the Sakharov Prize 2019 to Tohti ILHAM, advocate of China's Uyghur minority - Press conference