The Foundation’s ambition is to honour Harald Edelstam but also to encourage actions in the spirit of Harald Edelstam, by awarding a recurring prize, the Edelstam Prize. The Foundation was established on the 19th of February 2009.

It is 20 years since the diplomat and Ambassador Harald Edelstam passed away, but the memory of his deeds in defence of people and human rights is still alive for many, though Harald Edelstam during his lifetime never received the honour and recognition that he deserved. As a diplomat, Harald Edelstam, distinguished himself for his professional competence, his bravery and his civil courage in the fight of human rights. Harald Edelstam was an early proponent and symbol of what today is known as”Responsibility to Protect”.

The Foundation stands for a humanistic view, based on values and principles expressed in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights of 1948, along with subsequent conventions and internationally accepted human rights law. The Foundation is a politically and religiously independent organization.

The Foundation’s objective is to collect and manage funds that will finance the awarding of the Edelstam Prize in the spirit of the Swedish diplomat and Ambassador Harald Edelstam (1913-1989). Prize winners shall be individuals or persons who represent a government or national or international organization, that in their actions have met all or many of the following criteria:

• have acted in Harald Edelstam’s spirit in a country/countries where crimes against human rights have been committed by a government or other strong power * have shown a significant ability to quickly analyze a complex situation and find ways, even in an unconventional and creative way, to in practice defend human rights
• have in a such difficult or chaotic situation acted in a way that has had decisive importance for many threatened people or directly saved human lives
• have through their actions demonstrated great civil courage, dared to go against the tide, and shown that even in the darkest of times it is possible to contribute to the defence of human rights
• have acted with great competence, persistency, and cleverness, and with the bravery of not allowing one selves to be stopped by formal obstacles or threats

The Foundation operates actively to increase the awareness of the Foundation and totally depends on donations. Make a donation to support the Edelstam Prize:

Payment to Stiftelsen Harald Edelstam

Payments from Sweden: Bg. 404-0259 or Account No.8327-9,914 329 548-4
Payments from abroad: Bank: Swedbank, Box 4265. SE 102 66, Sweden
IBAN: SE6380000832799143295443
BIC: SWEDSESS