Dr Ewa Hofmańska Honored with the Ewa Bieńkowska Award 2025
News
Professor Piotr Hofmański, Ambassador of the Foundation Sunflowers, Winner of the 16th Edition of the Edward J. Wende Award!
The Edward J. Wende Award is a Polish distinction granted to individuals engaged in public service for their achievements in promoting legal culture and the rule of law. The award commemorates Edward Joachim Wende, a lawyer who, during the communist era in Poland, defended those persecuted for political reasons.
The award honors individuals who act in accordance with the principles of professional ethics and integrity, demonstrating civic courage, steadfastness, and selfless dedication to the public good, as well as to the protection of human and civil rights.
The award is granted for:
- Promoting and strengthening legal culture,
- Advancing the rule of law,
- Contributing to the development and preservation of Polish and European legal heritage,
- Efforts to strengthen democracy and Poland’s place in Europe.
The organizers of the award are the Edward J. Wende Fund and the Foundation for Poland.
Warm congratulations, Professor!
News
Foundation Sunflowers Supports Call for Justice and Reparations for Survivors of Russia’s War Against Ukraine
Foundation Sunflowers joins international partners in supporting the Global Survivors Fund’s call for justice and reparations for survivors of Russia’s war against Ukraine. As the war continues, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, enforced disappearance, torture, and other grave human rights violations are still waiting for justice. Reparations are not charity – they are a legal right and a cornstone for restoring dignity, rebuilding stability, and ensuring accountability. Foundation Sunflowers is proud to stand alongside leading international and Ukrainian organizations in signing this joint statement initiated by the Global Survivors Fund.
As the war in Ukraine continues, victims and survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, enforced disappearance, torture, and other grave violations are waiting for justice. Reparations are their right under international law, and a lifeline to rebuild stability, hope and restore dignity.
With a EUR 140 billion loan to Ukraine – backed by immobilised Russian sovereign assets – now on the table, the European Union must innovate by leveraging these assets and assign a portion of the funds for victims of gross human rights violations and serious violations of humanitarian law.
Dedicating as little as 2% of this reparation loan – EUR 2.8 billion – to domestic reparations programmes would transform lives. This bold step would showcase European leadership and a commitment to the rule of law, enabling the E.U. and Ukraine to:
Deliver reparations to all victims in urgent need, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence;
Provide recognition and redress to families of the disappeared;
Support rehabilitation and compensation for victims of torture and other grave violations.
This is a historic opportunity for Europe to pioneer a justice model where the perpetrator’s resources are used to repair the harm caused to victims, and survivors are no longer left to pay the price of survival. By investing in reparations, Europe will rebuild Ukraine’s social cohesion, support its human capital, and lay the foundations for reconstruction, recovery and justice.
You’re Invited: Webinar – ICC Arrest Warrant. How does it work?
The webinar is organised by Project Sunflowers and Kraków Center For International Criminal Justice (KCICJ) at the Jagiellonian University. The event is part of a collaboration between the Foundation Sunflowers, which runs Project Sunflowers, and the Krakow Centre for International Criminal Justice, and is aimed at lawyers and human rights activists.
A presentation on arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court will be given by ICC Judge Sergio Ugalde Godinez, who is currently the President of the Pre-Trial Division of the Court. Judge Ugalde was a professor of international law at the University for Peace in Costa Rica (2019-2021), mandated by the United Nations; a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration; former co-counsel, adviser and advocate for Costa Rica before the International Court of Justice; former Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2014-2018) and its representative to the OPCW and the Hague Conference on Private International Law. Judge Ugalde also served as Vice-President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute (2016-2018).
Registration link:
The event will be held in English