Introduction

With the ifa Award, ifa – Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen recognises the contribution of individuals and institutions to fostering transcultural relations through their social, socio-political or artistic work.  

Supporting the freedom of the arts, civil society and science are key elements of ifa's mission.  

Today, these freedoms are increasingly under threat, with nationalism, populism and authoritarian tendencies being just some of the challenges they face, even in democracies. Since 2009, the ifa Award has sent out a clear signal in support of human rights, democracy, peace, and freedom for artists, scientists and civil society actors. These values are also an integral part of the statutes of ifa. 

The winners give the 10,000-euro prize money to a cultural, charitable and peace-building project or organisation of their choice.  This year's ifa award-winning organization is donating it to the Media Initiative for Human Rights, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization that combines journalism and human rights protection to expose war crimes in Ukraine and respond to human rights violations in the context of Russian aggression.