The 17th edition of the prestigious Roma Spirit Award 2025 has received a total of 163 valid nominations. Anyone wishing to recognize the work and dedication of individuals and organizations contributing to the advancement of Roma communities and strengthening mutual coexistence had the opportunity to submit a nomination.
All submitted nominations were reviewed by the eighteen-member Preparatory Committee of Roma Spirit, composed of experts from various professional fields. The committee oversees the preparations for the event and ensures a transparent selection of finalists.
The Committee includes members of the Regular Board – social inclusion expert Stanislav Daniel, former Slovak Government Plenipotentiary for Roma Communities Ján Hero, ACEC Director Magdaléna Rothová, lawyer and educator Ivett Pavlis, sociologist Ábel Ravasz, and founder of the Roma Spirit Award Ľubomíra Slušná Franz.
“Every nomination we receive is proof that Roma Spirit has been fulfilling its mission for seventeen years. I am convinced that in the situation we find ourselves in as a society today, the importance and role of this event are greater than ever,” says Ľubomíra Slušná Franz, author of the Roma Spirit Award and Honorary President of the Association for Culture, Education and Communication (ACEC).
Other members of the Preparatory Committee include education expert Janette Motlová, lawyer Andrea Erdősová, Ambassador-at-Large for Human Rights Barbara Illková, anthropologist Radka Kováčová, HR Director of Tesco Slovakia Miroslava Rychtárechová, media expert Marta Gajdošíková, anthropologist Alexander Mušinka, sociologist Jakub Kováč, and Carpathian Foundation Director Laura Dittel.
“This year, I found truly authentic applications among the nominations. They were written by women directly from the community – perhaps not with perfect stylistics, but with immense strength and emotion. At that moment, I thought – this is why Roma Spirit is important, this is its true meaning,” adds Janette Motlová, member of the Preparatory Committee.
The names of the 21 finalists across 7 categories will be announced at the beginning of October. The Roma Spirit 2025 laureates will then be selected by the International Expert Jury and the Act of the Year Jury on the very day of the awards ceremony, 30 November. A recording of the gala evening will be broadcast by Slovak Television to mark International Human Rights Day.
