Created by the Council of Europe in 1980 and awarded once every three years “to uphold the merits of a person, group of persons, institution or non-governmental organization which has been active in promoting or protecting human rights in accordance with the principles of individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law”.
The ICJ was the first recipient of this prize. It was awarded to the ICJ because of its “exceptional contribution to the cause of human rights in accordance with the principles of individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law”.