On June 22, 2026, the European Parliament awarded the Vigdis Prize for Women's Empowerment to the campaign "My Voice, My Choice," which was led by the Slovenian non-governmental organization Institute 8. March. The award ceremony took place in Strasbourg, where representatives from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) presented the prize to the campaign team. The Vigdis Prize, named after Vigdis Finnbogadottir, the first woman elected as president of a country in 1980, recognizes outstanding contributions to the empowerment of women and girls across Europe and beyond. This year’s award carries a value of €60,000 and is jointly funded by PACE and the Icelandic government.
The campaign "My Voice, My Choice" aimed to ensure access to safe and legal abortion services for all women in Europe. It gathered over one million signatures last year as part of a European citizens' initiative on reproductive rights. The European Parliament supported this initiative in December with a non-binding resolution, urging the European Commission to establish a voluntary financial mechanism to support safe abortions for women who lack access due to national legislation. In response, the European Commission stated in February that member states could use existing EU funds to assist with reproductive healthcare.
Lana Čop, a representative from the Institute 8. March, accepted the award during the ceremony in Strasbourg. She emphasized that the prize was not just recognition for the campaign itself but also for the thousands of individuals who chose hope over cynicism and action over resignation. According to Čop, the award reflects a simple yet powerful idea—that change is possible. The Institute 8. March dedicated the award to Slovenia, stating that the country "connects more than it divides."
The award ceremony included remarks from Petra Bayr, President of PACE, who referenced Vigdis Finnbogadottir's famous quote: “If the world can be changed, it will be women who do it.” This sentiment underscored the significance of the campaign and its impact on promoting gender equality and reproductive rights.
In addition to "My Voice, My Choice," two other organizations were shortlisted for the Vigdis Prize this year. The Girl Child Counselling Women Group from Kenya supports children, young women, and young mothers affected by HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty. Meanwhile, Sasane – Samrakshak Samuha from Nepal works against human trafficking, child marriage, sexual exploitation, and violence based on gender. These groups exemplify the diverse efforts being made globally to empower women and address systemic inequalities.
The campaign "My Voice, My Choice" has been widely recognized for its grassroots mobilization and advocacy work. By gathering millions of signatures, it demonstrated broad public support for reproductive rights and highlighted the need for policy changes at both national and European levels. While the European Parliament endorsed the initiative in principle, the practical implementation remains dependent on member states using available resources effectively.
Despite these developments, challenges remain in ensuring universal access to reproductive health services across Europe. National laws vary significantly, and some countries still restrict access to abortion under certain conditions. The European Commission's statement suggests that while funding mechanisms exist, their application depends on political will and local priorities.
Looking ahead, the Institute 8. March and its partners plan to continue advocating for reproductive rights and gender equality. They aim to build on the momentum generated by receiving the Vigdis Prize and use it to further their mission of empowering women and girls. The campaign's success highlights the importance of sustained activism and international cooperation in addressing complex social issues.
As the debate around reproductive rights continues, the award serves as a reminder of the power of collective action and the potential for meaningful change. The recognition of "My Voice, My Choice" underscores the growing awareness of reproductive justice as a fundamental aspect of human rights and gender equality. With ongoing efforts from civil society, governments, and international bodies, the future of reproductive rights in Europe remains a topic of significant interest and discussion.
4 reports
VečerIndependent🔒CenterFactual 85Objective 7514 days agoThe Slovenian non-governmental organization Inštitut 8. marec has been awarded the vigdis prize by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in partnership with the Icelandic government. The award recognizes their campaign 'My Voice, My Choice,' which collected over a million signatures last year advocating for access to safe abortion across Europe. The European Parliament supported the initiative with a non-binding resolution, urging the European Commission to establish a voluntary financial mechanism to ensure access to safe abortions for women who lack it under national laws. The commission responded in February, stating member states could use existing EU funds to support access to safe abortion. The award ceremony took place in Strasbourg, where Lana Čop from Inštitut 8. marec emphasized that the award honors thousands of people who chose hope over cynicism and action over resignation. The organization dedicated the award to Slovenia, highlighting its unifying role. PACE President Petra Bayr referenced Vigdis Finnbogadottir’s words, emphasizing that women will solve the world’s problems if possible.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the awarding of the vigdis prize to a Slovenian NGO for its campaign on reproductive rights in an objective manner. It includes quotes from both the organization and PACE, provides background on the award and its purpose, and mentions the European Parliament's response without a
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 75): The article provides detailed information about the award, including the organization behind the campaign, the amount of the prize, and the context of the European Parliament's support. It accurately reflects the cross-source consensus. However, the final sentence appears cut off and lacks clarity,
RTV Slovenija (MMC)State / PublicCenterFactual 85Objective 7514 days agoThe Slovenian civil initiative 'Moj glas, moja odločitev' has received the Vigdis Award for women's empowerment for 2026, awarded by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in partnership with Iceland's government. The campaign, coordinated by the non-governmental organization Inštitut 8. marec, collected over a million signatures last year for a European citizens' initiative advocating access to safe abortion. The European Parliament supported the initiative in a non-binding resolution, urging the European Commission to establish a voluntary financial mechanism to ensure access to safe abortions for women who lack it under national laws. The European Commission responded that member states could use existing EU funds to support access to safe abortion. The award recognizes the initiative's efforts to promote women's rights and empowerment across Europe and beyond.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the event factually, highlighting both the initiative's achievements and the responses from various institutions, including the European Parliament and the European Commission. It does not exhibit overtly biased language, one-sided sourcing, or omission of context. The framing,
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 75): This article closely mirrors the first, providing similar details about the award and the campaign. It maintains consistency with the cross-source consensus but also has a truncated ending, impacting objectivity similarly.
Žurnal24IndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 7514 days agoThe Institute 8. March, a Slovenian non-governmental organization, has been awarded the Vigdis Award for their leadership in the 'My Voice, My Choice' campaign advocating for safe and accessible abortion across Europe. The award, worth €60,000, was presented by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in partnership with the Icelandic government. The campaign collected over a million signatures last year and received support from the European Parliament in a non-binding resolution. The Institute emphasized that the award recognizes Slovenia as a country that unites rather than divides people. The award honors exceptional individuals, organizations, or movements promoting women's empowerment globally.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the award and the associated campaign objectively, highlighting both the achievement and the broader implications without overtly favoring any particular political stance. It includes quotes from the Institute and mentions the European Parliament's response but does not frame it
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 75): The article repeats key facts from others, maintaining alignment with the cross-source consensus. It includes the same details about the award, the campaign, and the European Parliament’s involvement. Objectivity is slightly affected by repetition rather than bias.
MladinaIndependentProgressiveFactual 85Objective 7515 days agoThe civil initiative 'My Voice, My Choice,' coordinated by Slovenia's non-governmental organization Institute 8. March, has received the Vigdis Award worth €60,000. The award, established in 2023 and named after Iceland's former president Vigdis Finnbogadottir, recognizes outstanding contributions to empowering women and girls across Europe and beyond. The initiative collected over a million signatures last year for a European citizens' initiative advocating access to safe abortion services. The European Parliament supported the campaign with a non-binding resolution, urging the European Commission to create a voluntary financial mechanism to ensure access to safe abortions for women who lack it under national laws. The European Commission responded in February, stating member states could use existing EU funds to support access to safe abortion. The Institute 8. March dedicated the award to Slovenia, emphasizing its unifying role. Other finalists included organizations from Kenya and Nepal working on issues related to children, HIV/AIDS, poverty, human trafficking, child marriage, sexual exploitation, and gender-based violence.
Bias read (Progressive): The article highlights a progressive civil initiative focused on reproductive rights and gender empowerment, which aligns with left-leaning values. It emphasizes the success of a movement advocating for expanded access to safe abortion services, a topic often associated with liberal or leftist stanc
Why these scores (Factual 85 · Objective 75): Similar to previous articles, this piece presents the same factual content about the award and the campaign. It aligns well with the cross-source consensus but suffers from a cut-off at the end, which affects completeness and objectivity marginally.
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