Scandinavian Human Dignity Award

We are happy to award the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2023 to Jacques Mwepu. As an advocate for humane criminal justice, where the mission is to motivate inmates towards rehabilitation and prevent recidivism, Jacques Mwepu has stood up for the inherent value and human rights of every individual for many years. As the head of Kumla Prison, he has worked to treat inmates with dignity and uphold their integrity. Through his exemplary leadership, he advocates for the treatment and rehabilitation of convicts and has inspired and highlighted the positive results of rehabilitation efforts, where 70% of clients leaving The Correctional Services do not reoffend. Above all, he conveys hope and belief in every single person.

Jacques Mwepu's Response:
"I am incredibly happy and emotionally moved to be honored with such a fine and prestigious award, which I dedicate to all the staff at Kumla Prison. For me, it is a positive surprise to receive the international Scandinavian Human Dignity Award, previously awarded to dedicated fighters for human dignity such as Nobel laureate and physician Denis Mukwege and human rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson.

With deepest humility, I thank the committee for naming me the winner of the 2023 Scandinavian Human Dignity Award. I see it as a light in the darkness of November, characterized by misery both at home and around the world. The harsh realities remind us of our duty to be humane. In these times, our choices are crucial for the future. We live in a society dominated by a harsh criminal policy debate that leaves no room for dissent in the matter of crime and punishment, with an ideological stance on the future of the Correctional Services. A paradigm shift, according to the mantra we hear around the clock. The fact that human rights advocates noticed our commitment to humane criminal justice inspires us to continue working for an approach that treats inmates with dignity and safeguards their integrity and rights.

We believe in the human capacity for change, a stable foundation that strengthens the Correctional Services' 'better out' vision. We have evidence that our efforts make a difference, that we prevent recidivism, and make Sweden safer and more secure."

We are very pleased to award the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2022 to Police Inspector Annika Svensson. She has for many years and with great commitment worked to combat sexual crimes, prostitution, human trafficking and violence against women. Through the collaborative work Uppsala EU collaboration aimed toward victims and perpetrators with a focus on women and children from the EU, where many are in Sweden as a result of human exploitation, Annika has demonstrated the good power of collaboration. She is truly a worthy winner of this year's Scandinavian Human Dignity Award and we hope the award can inspire her continued dedicated work for vulnerable women's rights and cooperation at various levels in society.

We are very pleased to be able to award the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2021 to Maria Grahn Farley for her efforts for children’s rights. When the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child became Swedish law on 1 January 2020, it was an important step in strengthening children’s rights. Maria has for many years made an outstanding contribution in this area, not the least through her important legal commentary on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. We have had the privilege of collaborating with Maria on seminars and a report on human trafficking with a focus on children’s rights. Maria is truly a worthy winner of the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award.

Motivation
We are very pleased to be able to present the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award 2020 human rights award to Bryan Stevenson and the organization Equal Justice Initiative (EJI)
for theirenormous efforts to promote justice, human rights and human dignity. Bryan Stevenson is a true pioneer and his commitment to instill hope in the seemingly “hopeless” cases and to promote human dignity and human rights for vulnerable people sentenced to death is highly commendable. Bryan Stevenson and EJI have made a huge effort in their fight for the unjustly convicted and in their work they give a voice to those who can not raise their own voice. Bryan’s value – based work and his fight against systemic injustice and his bold stance for justice, truth and mercy are a great inspiration for us in our fight for human rights and justice in Scandinavia and Europe.

Bryan Stevensons
I am extremely honored to receive the Scandinavian Human Dignity Award, I have had the privilege of spending time with the previous winner of the award, Dr Denis Mukwege, and I know his remarkable work in Africa and being in the company of people who have done such extraordinary things. is deeply meaningful and very humbling. I am part of a tradition of people who carry the conviction that our faith must be made real in what we do and expressed in people’s lives whose humanity and human value are not recognized. I receive the award not only as a confirmation of what I do, but as a confirmation of the people I serve. I receive the award for the damned who are awaiting execution around the world, for those who are told that their lives have no meaning or purpose or value so they are imprisoned forever, for the children who had their childhood removed because they were considered adults even though they are 13 or 14, for the women who have been told that their fight against violence and abuse is irrelevant when they fall down, respond or react, and for the poor who often feel that they are less valuable and less important. It is in these societies and in this context that my life and my work are important and it is this kind of recognition that makes that work even more remarkable, so I am grateful to the organization and network of lawyers, lawyers and activists around Scandinavia and Europe, which thought it valuable to acknowledge our work in America with the EJI, I am very honored.