The Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture 2008: “Democracy and Freedom as Fundamental Human Rights” by Eleonora Cercavschi
16.00-18.00, 6th Floor Auditorium, Woodrow Wilson Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W, Washington, D.C. 20004-3027
Entry is free. R.S.V.P. at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it suggested by 1 December 2008
The Ratiu Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson Center, and the Ratiu Center for Democracy are pleased to announce the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture 2008, which will take place at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington DC, on 4 December 2008. On this occasion, Ms Eleonora Cercavschi will receive the Ion Ratiu Democracy Award. Ms Cercavschi is the headmistress of Stefan the Great High School (Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Lyceum) in Grigoriopol, Moldova.
The Welcome Remarks before the Lecture will be delivered by Mr Samuel Donaldson, Chairman of The Wilson Council. An introduction will be made by The Honourable Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs.
Ms Eleonora Cercavschi is a dedicated human rights and democracy activist in Moldova’s Transnistria region. Through her remarkable accomplishments, in particular her leadership of the Stephen the Great High School (Stefan Cel Mare si Sfint Lyceum) in Grigoriopol, Moldova, she has received recognition as a political activist and an educator. Ms. Cercavschi demonstrated unparalleled commitment to securing the rights of high school children in Transnistria to education in their native language, and outstanding dedication to the cause of promoting democratic values.
The purpose of the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture is to bring visibility and international recognition to the ideas and accomplishments of individuals around the world who are working on behalf of democracy. The lecture strives to enrich the intellectual environment in which ideas about democracy and democratic change circulate, both within and beyond Washington.
Sponsored by the Ratiu Foundation and the Ratiu Center for Democracy (Turda, Romania), The Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture expresses the deep commitment to democracy of the late Ion Ratiu, as well as his interest in democratic change worldwide, through his contributions as a campaigner for human rights and democracy, and as a politician in post-1989 Romania.
The 2008 Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center is the fourth event in a series begun at Georgetown University in 2005 and held at the Wilson Center since 2006. Past awardees include Sergio Aguayo (Mexico), Saad El-Din Ibrahim (Egypt) and Anatoli Mikhailov (Belarus).
Professor Eliot Sorel, MD, serves as Senior Advisor to the Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture.
The Ion Ratiu Democracy Lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center is organized by the Wilson Center’s Romania Initiative within the History and Public Policy Program (HAPP).
For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Christian Ostermann, Director, HAPP, Mircea Munteanu, Project Associate, HAPP, Romania Initiative.
Details on www.wilsoncenter.org/ratiu