Press release
“Efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of citizens are never in vain,” says 2026 Max van der Stoel Award winner
- Date:
- Place:
- THE HAGUE
- Source:
- OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
THE HAGUE, 3 November 2026 – “Standing here today, I would like to send one clear message: efforts to uphold the rights and dignity of citizens are never in vain, particularly when they are directed towards those in minority communities,” said Lidija Županić Šuica, founder and director of Education for the 21st Century.
She received the 2026 Max van der Stoel Award on behalf of Education for the 21st Century, an organization from Serbia at a ceremony at the Peace Palace in The Hague today, attended by representatives from governments, civil society and international organizations.
Presenting the award on behalf of the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands, Ambassador for International Organisations Erik Weststrate stated: “Education for the 21st Century helps close the gap between principles on paper and reality in the classroom. Their work ensures that minority rights are not just legal commitments, but lived experiences for the next generation. That is why the Netherlands is proud to present them with the Max van der Stoel Award.”
Speaking on behalf of the jury, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp said: “Education for the 21st Century promotes the teaching of history as a process of critical reflection so that students can appreciate the diverse perspectives and historical narratives that exist in a multicultural society. [It] raises the visibility of national minorities, promotes inclusive historical narratives, and supports social cohesion across the region.”
The Max van der Stoel Award – a prize of €50,000 – has been organized by the office of the High Commissioner on National Minorities and sponsored by the Dutch Foreign Ministry every two years since 2003. It is presented to a person, group or institution, in recognition of their extraordinary achievements in improving the position of national minorities across the OSCE area.
Max van der Stoel was appointed as the first OSCE High Commissioner in 1992 and served eight and a half years in the post. He was twice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, and held seats in both the upper and lower houses of the Dutch Parliament. He served as Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations and was awarded the honorary title of Minister of State by the then Queen Beatrix.
Event material can be found here.
Learn more about the winner here.
Learn more about the Max van der Stoel Award | OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
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