Sakharov Prize

The Sakharov prize is a prize given to people who did good things, especially for human rights and freedom. It is made after honour of Andrei Sakharov and given by the European Union each year, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Development of the European Parliament create a shortlist of candidates. A shortlist is then chosen in September by the MEPs who comprise those committees. The Conference of Presidents (the heads of political parties and presidents) of the European Parliament then makes the final decision, and the name of the laureate is revealed in late October. In December, the prize is presented in a ceremony held in the Strasbourg hemicycle, or circular chamber, of the Parliament. The prize includes a €50,000 monetary award.