Award from the Commissioner for Human Rights for achievements in defending the rights and interests of people with disabilities

Candidates may be nominated by social organizations and higher-education institutions. The award may be granted to citizens of the Republic of Poland, citizens of foreign countries, or institutions based in the territory of the Republic of Poland or abroad. Applications will be accepted by e-mail at: nagroda.macieja.lisa@brpo.gov.pl until 16 October 2015

They should include a description of the candidate’s activities and a justification of the nomination, together with any opinions from other entities regarding their activities.

The award will be decided by a panel consisting of the Commissioner for Human Rights, a representative of the Maciej Lis Family, the rector of the University of Wrocław, the mayor of the City of Wrocław, and the bishop of the Wrocław Diocese of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession.

The award will be presented on 16 November in Wrocław, on the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Maciej Lis.

The Maciej Lis Award was established on the initiative of the Commissioner for Human Rights to honor the memory of Maciej Lis— the RPO’s field representative in Wrocław and a doctor of legal sciences, who throughout his professional career was actively involved in associations and social organizations established to support people with disabilities and those living in poverty (including as founder of the St. Jadwiga Foundation for the Wrocław–Dortmund International Partnership, member of the Council of Diaconia in the Republic of Poland, member of the Programme Council of the Association of Civic Initiatives, member of the Council of Public Benefit Activity in its third term, and others).

Moreover, he tirelessly worked to establish care homes, social stations, and rehabilitation-equipment lending facilities for people in need. He co-created the Center for Education and Rehabilitation of People with Disabilities in Wrocław, now the Evangelical Diaconia Center. He also co-organized the Center for Civic Initiatives in Wrocław and the District of Mutual Respect of Four Denominations.

Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights/ii