Former Federal President Joachim Gauck was awarded the Franz Werfel Human Rights Prize from the Center against Expulsion on Sunday. In his speech of thanks, Gauck recalled the fate of the more than 80 million people who are currently on the run around the world. "We see the terrible consequences on our doorstep in Europe," said Gauck, referring to the dead in the Mediterranean. Combating flight and displacement worldwide also means combating the causes of flight wherever possible. "I wonder if we couldn't do more than we actually do."
Gauck criticized "naked ignorance" and "realpolitical excessive demands" when it comes to enforcing human rights.
Despite all the assurances, the international community was unable to prevent genocide and expulsions.
"We know the disregard and marginalization of human rights when it comes to asserting economic interests," said Gauck.
He specifically mentioned the situation of the opposition in Belarus.
The award ceremony in Frankfurt's Paulskirche could only take place now due to the pandemic, after the Gauck Prize, endowed with 10,000 euros, had already been awarded last year.
In his laudation, the Federal Government Commissioner for Resettlement Issues and National Minorities, Bernd Fabritius (CSU), praised the fact that Gauck had supported the project of a center against expulsions as a place of documentation and remembrance from the start. He had brought refugees and displaced people out of the "shadow of memory". According to the jury, the award is intended to honor Gauck's longstanding commitment, who, as Federal President, denounced the violation of human rights through genocide, displacement and genocide.
The Protestant theologian Joachim Gauck was one of the leading members of the New Forum in Rostock in the GDR and was Federal Commissioner for the records of the State Security Service of the former GDR from 1991 to 2000. Elected the eleventh Federal President on March 18, 2012, he was the highest representative of the Federal Republic of Germany until 2017.