Vanda received this award as an human rights attorney for her long-term advocacy for the rights of Roma women and Roma in Slovakia. The jury appreciated Vanda’s years of helping to promote the right of Roma children to equal access to education without segregation, and the right to compensation for illegally sterilized Roma women. It also noted her representation of Roma who faced police violence in cases of police raids in Moldava nad Bodvou or Vrbnica. The jury also highlighted as important her cooperation with a group of Roma women.

The visual artist Emília Rigová was also awarded together with her. The Kalapa Tele – Klobúk dole Public Award went to long-time youth worker Dávid Korčkovský.

For the seventh time, the award was presented by Roma organisations and independent personalities to people who have been working for a long time to improve the position of Roma and Romani women in various areas of life.

Ocenenie Lúč z tmy is organised by the civic association eduRoma in cooperation with the Institute of Romani Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Health of the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra.

📸 Jana Gombošová