Paraplegics’ organisation wins 2023 Stella Soulioti award

The Paraplegics’ Organisation has won this year’s ‘Stella Soulioti’ annual human rights award, which will presented at the foreign ministry on December 28, along with the €10,000 prize.

The award was established in 2021 to honour the legacy of Stella Soulioti, Cyprus’ first and only female attorney-general “who inspired future generations” the foreign ministry said.

The Prize is awarded annually to a person or NGO for their special contribution to the defence of human rights in Cyprus.

The award evaluation committee for 2023 consisted of the ministers for justice, foreign affairs, the Ombudswoman and representatives of NGOs.

The Paraplegics Organisation was founded in 1980 with the aim of focusing on issues pertaining to those with spinal injuries. It has since emerged as a pioneer in the promotion of independent living, the improvement of the standard of living and the social integration of people with disabilities, especially those with mobility difficulties, as well as increasing the awareness and respect of Cypriot society when it comes to persons with disabilities.

The award evaluation committee also decided to honour the organisations “Caritas Cyprus” and “Generation for Change CY” for their contribution and work in the protection of human rights on the island.

Soulioti was the first Cypriot woman to join the British RAF during the second world war. She was educated in Cyprus and Egypt and was became a member of Gray’s Inn in 1950 after being called to the bar after practising law in Cyprus.

She also headed the Red Cross in Cyprus from 1961 and remained in the post until 2004. Soulioti was appointed justice minister in 1960, the first woman in the world to hold such a position and held the post until 1970.

Between 1971 and 1974 she was the island’s first Law Commissioner and was appointed attorney-general from 1984 to 1988. Soulioti died in 2012 aged 92.