CNCDH Human Rights Prize 2025 (up to €70,000) Deadline: 14 September, 2025

Applications are open for the CNCDH Human Rights Prize 2025. Created in 1988, at the instigation of the CNCDH, the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic aims to reward actions in the field and projects, individual or collective, relating to the effective protection and promotion of human rights. In 2025, for the 38th edition of the Human Rights Prize, the CNCDH will reward projects dedicated to the exploitation and trafficking of children.

Since 1992, the Human Rights Prize has focused each year on one or two themes chosen by the members of the Commission Nationale Consultative Des Droits De L’Homme (CNCDH). These themes echo current events, the anniversary of a major international human rights convention, or make it possible to discuss issues that are little or little known (Gender equality, sexual and reproductive rights, rights of people with disabilities, exploitation of minors, right to education, protection of the environment and biodiversity, freedom of the press, etc.).

Award

• The five winners of the Human Rights Prize share a financial endowment of 70,000 Euros and benefit from the diplomatic protection of France for life. The prize is awarded only to the winners; Special mentions do not benefit from it.
• They are invited to France for the official presentation of the Prize by a member of the French Government on 10 December. On the sidelines of this ceremony, these women and men human rights defenders meet with French institutional and civil society actors.

Eligibility

• Individuals or non-governmental organizations with one or more human rights-based field projects aimed at preventing and combating trafficking and exploitation of children are eligible to apply.
• Preference will be given to applications that, in accordance with children’s rights, aim to:
  • provide comprehensive support for young people;
  • implement transformative and restorative actions;
  • ensure the active participation of the children themselves in the project.

The projects presented will focus on the defence and protection of children from trafficking and exploitation through programmes including:

• raising awareness among the general public and the authorities;
• identification and referral of victims;
• reception, support and rehabilitation of child victims;
• training of actors (police, justice, medico-social sector, education, etc.);
• advocacy for the implementation of legal tools or the development of public policies to combat and prevent it;
• access to justice and reparations

Application

NGOs or individual candidates, regardless of nationality or borders, must submit to the Secretary General of the CNCDH an application file presenting their actions, carried out in France or abroad, for the promotion or protection of human rights.

The application must be written in French and include:

• A letter of application presented and signed by the president or legal representative of the NGO concerned, or by the individual candidate.
• The application form.
• This form should present, in detail, the actions conducted by the association or individual.
• A presentation of the NGO (statutes, operations, etc.), where appropriate.
• The postal address and bank details (included IBAN and SWIFT Code) of the NGO or individual candidate.

Candidates must send their complete application by the deadline of 14 September 2025 to the Secretariat-General of the CNCDH:

• CNCDH – for the attention of Cécile RIOU-BATISTA, TSA 40 720 – 20 avenue de Ségur, 75 007 PARIS – France
• or by email to: prixdesdroitsdelhomme@cncdh.fr

Deadline: September 14, 2025

For more information, visit CNCDH Human Rights Prize.