Merkel gets 1st Int’l Gender Equality Prize

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Thursday announced in Brussels the name of the first-ever recipient of the International Gender Equality Prize introduced by the Finnish government.

The prize goes to Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany in recognition of her long-standing work as a defender of human dignity and human rights and commitment to women and girls globally, said a government press release.

“Chancellor Angela Merkel has become one of the world’s most influential people and is an example to many women and girls,” said Sipilä.

Equality is a core value for Finland, which is celebrating 100 years of its independence.

The prime minister said, “Ours was the first nation in the world to grant women full political rights in 1906. Through this prize, we want to strengthen appreciation for gender equality in other countries around the world too.”

The prize established by the Government of Finland amounts to EUR 150,000. The recipient assigns the money to a cause he or she has chosen that strengthens the position of girls and women. The prize money is financed from Finland’s development cooperation appropriations.

The cause chosen by Chancellor Merkel will be announced in Tampere at a high-level seminar on gender equality in early 2018. The event is organised in cooperation with the City of Tampere.

The government presented the prize to the recipient based on a proposal made by an independent jury. This year the jury comprises of Tampere Hall Managing Director Paulina Ahokas (chair), General Secretary for the Centenary Pekka Timonen, and author and researcher Rosa Meriläinen.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s life work has made her one of the world’s most influential people and an example for many women and girls. By breaking through the glass ceiling, Merkel has shown that women can rise to the top ranks of society.

In her position as chancellor, Merkel has brought gender equality to the agenda of world leaders at summit meetings. She has worked to improve the rights and opportunities of women especially in developing countries.

In Germany, her aim is to achieve genuine equality in society between men and women, which means, for instance, making it easier to reconcile work and family life.

She has always stood up for human dignity and human rights under the pressure of international challenges. She is also a strong believer in European values – a true European leader and role model.