FES Human Rights Award 2025

Around the world, borders can be places of humiliation and indignity. In many countries, detaining newly arrived immigrants, asylum seekers awaiting a decision, or individuals facing deportation is standard practice – often in dire conditions and with no prospect of release. This continues to happen despite international treaties clearly stipulating that detention may only be used in exceptional circumstances and categorically prohibiting imprisonment of children.

Depriving someone of their freedom is always a serious infringement of fundamental rights and is especially traumatising for people who have experienced violence.

In recognition of its outstanding work, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung will be presenting this year’s Human Rights Award to International Detention Coalition (IDC). This global network is committed to improving detention practices worldwide and ultimately putting an end to detention practices altogether.

We cordially invite you to join us on 13 October 2025 at our award ceremony in honour of an international network that courageously, persistently, and successfully defends people who are most at risk of human rights violations.

Together we can take a stand for a kinder, more humane migration policy that seeks to strengthen rather than divide societies.

We are delighted that Reem Alabali Radovan, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development in the German government, has agreed to give this year’s presentation speech.

As part of the event, we will also be holding a panel discussion on "Child Detention: Reality and Rights in the Context of Migration", with contributions from a number of distinguished speakers, including:

• Saskia Esken, chairwoman of the Bundestag Committee on Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
• Dr Najat Maalla M'jid, United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children
• Prof Dr Constantin Hruschka, migration expert, Protestant University of Applied Sciences Freiburg
• Carolina Gottardo, International Detention Coalition

For further information, please visit our website: FES Human Rights Award 2025

The event will be interpreted. The event will take place on the ground floor and is wheelchair accessible. There is barrier-free access to the event rooms. Please let us know if you have any special requirements, such as sign language interpretation, support for blind or visually impaired people, or the need for assistance.