The award has been established by NGO GARIWO Sarajevo which promotes civil courage in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Professor Dusko Kondor was a human rights activist and a promoter of civil courage in Bosnia and Herzegivina. Mr. Kondor was one of the founders and head of the human rights education section of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Republika Srpska, BiH. Kondor was also responsible for education in NGO GARIWO, where he especially worked with young people. He worked for the benefit of better respect of human rights, more efficient functioning of judicial system, and the protection of all people and ethnicities living in the Republika Srpska.
The Dusko Kondor Civil Courage Award was awarded for the first time on the anniversary of Dusko Kondor’s murder. NGO GARIWO decided to give the award to three outstanding Bosnian examples of civil courage: Dragan Andric (posthumously), Lazar Manojlovic and Denis Becirovic. Each of these individuals from different ethnic backgrounds has shown civil courage, each in their own way.
Dragan Andric (1956 – 2004) was professor of security and a human rights activist, poet and singer. In the most turbulent times in BiH he rescued civilians of different ethnic backgrounds and fought against injustice. His poetry and his songs reflected his engagement and his idealism.
Lazar Manojlovic (1934- ) is a teacher, journalist and author. He refused to divide children by ethnicity in his school and he is known for saying that in schools there are only two “ethnicities”, that of students and teachers. He condemned the war and spoke openly about the injustice which was done to other ethnicities in his country. Mr. Manojlovic has written many books and is still an active journalist.
Denis Becirovic (1975 - ) is a professor in history and geography and a delegate of the Social Democratic party of BiH (SDP) in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH. He is an active spokesperson for civil courage in political life. Recently, he persuaded the Council of Ministers to a give financial support for erecting a monument in honour of a young Bosnian Serb, Srdjan Aleksic, who was killed saving his Bosnjak friend during the war. During the ceremony, Becirovic gave a powerful speech, saying that Srdjans death should never be forgotten; instead it should be a permanent message for the future that Bosnians should preserve as a light example of civil solidarity.
The director of NGO GARIWO Ms. Svetlana Broz thanked the Royal Norwegian Embassy and Ambassador Mr. Jan Braathu for their support for education on civil courage in BiH.
Ambassador`s speech