On 22 October 2026, Willa Decjusza in Kraków will host the award ceremony of the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Polish Award, presented to individuals and organisations who make an outstanding contribution to dialogue, mutual understanding and the peaceful coexistence of societies, religions and cultures.
Established by the Willa Decjusza Association in 2003, the Award commemorates Sérgio Vieira de Mello, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who was tragically killed during a mission in Iraq. For over two decades, the Award has symbolised a commitment to building a world founded on solidarity, empathy and mutual understanding.
Each year, the Award Jury selects laureates in two categories: “Individual” and “Non-Governmental Organisation”. The recipients receive a statuette designed by Andrzej Renes and a cash prize funded by the Award’s partners and sponsors.
The Award Jury comprises representatives of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland; the Embassies of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Kingdom of Sweden in Poland; the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Poland; the Department of Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Commissioner for Human Rights; the Mayor of Kraków; the Consulate General of the United States in Kraków; the Award’s initiators, the Willa Decjusza Association and the ZNAK Foundation; and the Award’s sponsor, ZUE Group.
The winners will be announced this Thursday!
