Ján Kuciak (source: TASR)
Murdered investigative journalist Ján Kuciak (in memoriam), Evangelic theologian Ondrej Prostredník and founder of the Slniečko Centre in Nitra, Mariana Kováčová, were awarded for their effort to pursue human and women rights and transparency in Slovakia.
The awards were granted by US Ambassador to Slovakia Adam Sterling at a ceremony held on April 25.
“The US Embassy is annually awarding the remarkable successes of Slovaks, who are trying to improve the lives of their fellow citizens and strengthen Slovak democracy,” the US Embassy wrote on its Facebook page. “These awards confirm the US commitment to basic values of equality, tolerance, good management of public affairs and transparency.”
The award will bear journalist’s name
Kuciak received the Transparency Award in memoriam for his investigative reports on corruption, his courage to search for the truth and personal sacrifice to the public service. Sterling gave the award to his family members and colleagues from the Aktuality.sk website.
To honour his courage, the embassy will rename the Transparency Award as the Ján Kuciak Memorial Transparency Award, the embassy informed.
Prostredník was granted the Human Rights Award for his open protection of vulnerable minorities in Slovakia.
“Ondrej Prostredník is exhaustingly protecting the equal treatment of the LGBTI community as well as religious tolerance and understanding between Christians, Jews and Muslims,” the embassy wrote.
The embassy also granted Kováčová the Women of Courage Award. Slniečko Centre offers supporting and protecting services to domestic violence and sexual abuse victims.
“Mrs. Kováčová is fighting for women rights and better social and protective services in Slovakia,” the embassy wrote.
