Raoul Wallenberg Prize handed to individuals, groups active in disadvantaged communities

The association awarded Andras Biro, a journalist who has worked to help Roma communities in Hungarian villages, and was the first to help the development of Roma civil organisations in the country, in a ceremony on Tuesday.

Antal Czinder, a painter and sculptor who is the creator of several works commemorating Raoul Wallenberg, received the prize as an acknowledgement of his work for the association and his firm stance against discrimination of any kind, the association said.

Bela Bako received the prize for his work with orphaned children and the poor in Targo Mures, Romania.     Barbara Balazs Kissne received it for her work as a social worker and an organiser of the Hungarian March of the Living, and of events to raise awareness of the Roma Holocaust, the association said.

The civil organisation Ame Panzh – Tv Baxtale, a group of five young people of Roma origin, has created and online space to give voice to Roma intellectuals, the association said.