Women of Europe Award 2003/2004

Polish edition of the contest

Title "WOMEN OF EUROPE" is awarded biannually by the International Association for the Promotion of Women of Europe (AIPFE), with its seat in Brussels.

International Forum For Women together with the Centre for the Advancement of Women organised Polish edition of the contest Women of Europe Award 2003/2004 ("Kobiety Europy 2003/2004").

The procedure for awarding prizes has two levels: national and European. Each national jury, consisting of representatives of the organisational committee, public persons and journalists, selects one winner from among submitted candidates, who will represent the country during European contest. Next, the European jury, consisting of well-known journalists and personalities, selects “Woman of Europe” from among national winners.

For the first time, Poland was represented in this contest in 1993, when prof. Ewa Łętowska was a candidate for “Women of Europe” title. In 1994, Janina Ochojska – the national winner – was awarded the grand prize together with Francisca Sauquillo, Spanish, well deserved during combat for human rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over the next years, there were two Polish editions, and their winners were Wanda Nowicka and Alina Obidniak. The fifth Polish edition of the contest was held in 2001, and prof. Eleonora Zielińska as Polish winner and a candidate for this title was selected. Then from among 11 national winners, Irena Papas – Greek actress, who worked for wide spreading of culture in Europe, was awarded.

For the contest announced in November 2003 by the International Forum For Woman and the Centre for the Advancement of Women 10 candidatures of outstanding women were submitted from all over Poland:

• Renata Berent-Mieszczanowicz - a doctoral student of the Wroclaw University, a teacher and author of many programs on social prophylactic,
• Halina Bortnowska - journalist, social and ecumenical activist, a member of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights,
• dr hab. Zofia Chyra-Rolicz - historian, a lecturer of the Podlaska Academy in Siedlce,
• prof. Ludmiła Dziewięcka-Bokun - a lawyer, a lecturer of the Wroclaw University,
• dr Krystyna Gromek - a judge at the Regional Court in Warsaw,
• Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka - a MP, former president of Polish Women’s League, the Plenipotentiary Governmental for Equal Opportunities for Women and Men
• Dorota Kempka - a senator from Bydgoszcz, the president of the Parliamentary Women’s Group
• prof. Maria Szyszkowska - a senator, a lecturer at the Warsaw University, the initiator and author of the partnership law,
• prof. Anna Wolff-Powęska - a historian, the director of the Western Institute in Poznań,
• Róża Woźniakowska-Thun - the president of Robert Schuman Foundation of Poland.

From among the submitted candidates, the jury of the Polish edition of the contest, consisting of 26 people, including journalists as a half of this number, during its meeting held on 26 January selected Róża Woźniakowska-Thun as the Polish candidate for "2004 Women of Europe".

Each of the jurors assessed candidatures entering the contest within the following nine aspects:

1. candidate’s activities for building united Europe,
2. other activities for European integration,
3. originality of activities,
4. number of countries involved in candidate’s activities,
5. period of activities undertaken,
6. scope of activities,
7. direct impact on the community,
8. achievements,
9. national and European partners involved in candidates’ activities.

The meeting of the European jury was held on 13 October 2004 in the European Parliament in Brussels. Jurors assessed fifteen national candidates. They were:

• Representative of Austria- Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell, economist by education, Vice-president of Austria National Bank, a member of Board of Directors of European Central Bank, the President of the Board of organisation “Sozial Global” working transborderly for elderly people.
• Representative of Belgium - Francoise Meunier – doctor and scientist, specialist in oncology. From 1995 the general director of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, which coordinates clinical research of 2500 doctors in 32 countries.
• Representative of Cyprus - Fotini Papadopoulu – wife of the President of Cyprus involved in various charity actions, and in activities for tolerance and right to be different in Europe.
• Representative of the Netherlands – Marie-Louise Van Wilk – French language teacher, involved in movement of a Women Catholic organisations and in support for organisations from countries in transitional period.
• Representative of France - Claudine Hermann - physicist, professor at the Ecole Politechnique. The founder of an association supporting women in science. She is an expert of a group "Women and Science" in European Commission.
• Representative of Germany - Cristiane Schloetzer-Scotland – journalist, the founder of association “Journalists support journalists”, an initiator of dialog of between the European Union, Balkan States and Turkey
• Representative of Greece - Aliki Moschis – graduate of international studies at Johns Hopkins University (USA). The founder of the Women-Art-Mediterranean – coalition of women artists of 25 countries of Mediterranean. During last four years, she organised several international meetings promoting culture of Mediterranean countries and women’s contribution into it. Through her social activities, she builds bridges between women artist of the European Union and the Middle East.
• Representative of Hungary - Iren Borbola-Elekes – librarian promoting equality between women and men in her job.
• Representative of Italy - Mariella Primiceri – a lawyer, specialized in criminology. In particular involved in pedophilia prevention, violence against women and policemen training in this field taking into consideration international practices.
• Representative of Lithuania - Evalda Marija Jakaitiene – professor of the Vilnius University specialized in linguistic studies.
• Representative of Poland - Róża Woźniakowska-Thun – graduate of English literature at the Jagiellonian University. From 1992 the president of Robert Schuman Foundation. The initiator and organiser of so-called Schuman marches and “YES for referendum”.
• Representative of Portugal - Maria de Sousa - doctor of biology, specialized in immunology. Active on the European forum in promoting of scientists’ achievements and exchange of experience.
• Representative of Romania - Maria Morgenstern – well-known actress, starred among others, Maria in “The Passion”. Involved in educational activities for children and the youth in order to make them more sensitive to national cultural heritage.
• Representative of Slovakia - Anna Kovacova - psychologist, involved in activities of pro-family organisations and for solidarity between generations, women and men. Mother of eight children.
• Representative of Spain - Ana Urchueguia – a woman of politics, major of a small town in Spain. During 1993-1996 she was a senator in the Parliament. Involved in activities of organisations fighting against terrorism in Spain and for the Third World countries.

European jury decided to select Greek - Aliki Moschis – for “2004 Woman of Europe” (Kobiety Europy 2004). The ceremony announcing the jury verdict was held on 14 October 2004 in the European Parliament. The winner – Aliki Moshchis – was awarded the golden medal. The President of the European Parliament - Josep Borrell – was present at the ceremony.

Winners of
Women of Europe Award

In previous years, Polish women were successful in this contest:

• In 1994, Janina Ochojska was awarded “Woman of Europe” ex aequo with a Spanish
• In 2001 – the winner of “Women of Europe” contest in Poland was prof. Eleonora Zielińska – a lecturer of criminal law at the Warsaw University.
• The winner of "2001 Women of Europe" award was well-known globally Greek actress Irena Papas (Zorba the Greek, the Guns of Navarona), the founder and the honorary president of the International Consortium of Dramatic Art Schools in Athens, Roma and Sagunto. Irena Papas was awarded for her activities for common European culture identification and promotion of European civilization in the world. In this contest, there were 11 candidates – winners of national contests – of Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Hungary and Italy. The awarding ceremony took place in the building of the Belgian Senate in very solemn atmosphere

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