Freedom of Speech Medals awarded at a gala in Gdańsk. Winners of the main categories: Pro Loquela Silesiana, Karolina Lewicka and Anja Rubik

The medals were presented for the fourth time during a ceremonial gala at the European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk. The event featured performances by: Ania Karwan, Monika Kuszyńska, Natalia Niemen, Mietek Szcześniak, Mateusz Ziółko accompanied by the Tarkowski Orchestra. Adam Nowak performed the world premiere of a song written to the words of Jacek Kaczmarski's poem “Diagnoza”.

The Freedom of Speech Medal Gala was broadcast live at 8 p.m. on TVN24 and on the Grand Press Foundation Facebook page.

– We are once again travelling with democratic and relatively safe countries. And a year ago we could not be sure of that at all – said Weronika Mirowska, president of the Grand Press Foundation, at the beginning of the gala.

– That is why it is fitting that this year's celebration should become a symbolic thank you to civil society, to the people who worked, devoted their time and energy, fought and sometimes suffered in recent years, so that we could all once again wander through the country described in 1938 by Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński – she added.

During Friday evening, medals were awarded in three categories: Media, Institution and Citizen.

In the Institution category, the award was given to:

Pro Loquela Silesiana. Society for the Cultivation and Promotion of Silesian Language – for fighting for freedom of speech in the Silesian language. For perseverance in strengthening the Silesian identity by taking care of the Silesian language's due position and its presence in the public space.

The president of the association, Rafał Adamus, expressed his gratitude for the distinction he received. – We know that freedom of speech is not only freedom of what you want to say, but also of how you want to say it. That is why there is no shame in speaking Silesian, even when we are here in Gdańsk – he added. He said that despite this, “a lot of people in Silesia feel this shame, because for decades they were told that someone who speaks Silesian must be uneducated, uneducated, uncultured”.

Also nominated were:

In the Media category, the medal was awarded to:

Karolina Lewicka (Tok FM) – for intelligent, cool and consistent removal of the masks from politicians who try to hide their true intentions behind thick make-up of political lipstick. For bravely standing on the side of truth and respecting the audience.

The journalist thanked for the award from the stage. – It seems to me that I am the beneficiary of a profession that is visible. My congratulations go to all those who, especially over the last eight years, have fought for freedom of speech and democracy, in a way, alongside their professional lives, sacrificing their private time and life energy – she said.

– At the same time, I would like to use this very embarrassing situation, as I noted at the beginning, for me, to also express my thanks. I have already thanked the jury. I would also like to add – because you could see my career path in recent years – I would like to thank Radio Tok FM for the opportunity to grow and develop as a journalist – added Lewicka.

In the Citizen category, the medal was awarded to:

Anja Rubik – for her courageous use of freedom of speech, for which she was repeatedly attacked by right-wing circles. An activist working for women and fighting for access to sexual education for young people in Poland.

– I am truly moved and I would like to thank my entire team at the SEKSED.PL Foundation. Without them, I would not be able to act so dynamically and without them we would not be able to help so many people every day through our various educational programs, through our anti-violence line, our workshops – she said after receiving the award. – I would like to emphasize how important sexual education is, what a huge impact it has on our social, emotional, mental and physical development. It is essential for our health and our safety. For building relationships, not only intimate ones, respect and trust – continued the model and activist.

According to her, “real sex education, the real kind, of course adapted to age, should be a mandatory subject in every school.” – Because it teaches us how to be human and how to function safely in today's world – she added.

Also nominated in this category were:

During the event, awards were also given. Special Medal of Freedom of Speech from the Grand Press Foundation. The President of the Grand Press Foundation, Weronika Mirowska, announced that “today our Foundation would like to symbolically thank all citizens who have not given up fighting for human rights”. – For three years, our Special Medal of Freedom of Speech has been awarded to people who are well-known and distinguished for Poland. We bow low to them. But this year we also want to bow to people who are equally distinguished, although perhaps a little less known – she said.

– I would like to present the Special Medal of Freedom of Speech for civil society in Poland today to one of the people who stood alone for all of us. Mrs. Ilona Michalak from Bydgoszcz – she said.

Michalak received the award on stage and said: – I am an ordinary person and I have an ordinary life, although recently a little less ordinary. I went out into the streets to oppose lawlessness and I was persecuted for it. I demanded only ordinary things and, it would seem, obvious things. I demanded only that the authorities act in accordance with the law, I demanded only that my right to express my thoughts be respected, I demanded only that people not be persecuted for their views.

– I demanded and will continue to demand, because when the authorities forbid us to speak, we have to shout. Otherwise, we will be slaves not to the authorities, but to our own fear. And I do not want to live in fear – she added.

One more person appeared on stage that evening to accept an award. It was award of the Association of Authors ZAIKS and the Grand Press Foundation in the competition “Write a song with Jacek Kaczmarski”. He received it Cuba Blokesz for an original composition set to the words of Jacek Kaczmarski's poem “Diagnosis”.

The winners were selected by this year’s Freedom of Speech Medal jury composed of: Krzysztof Głuchowski (director of the J. Słowacki Theatre in Kraków), prof. Ewa Łętowska (former ombudsman), Weronika Mirowska (president of the Grand Press Foundation), Piotr Świerczek (TVN24 journalist) and Ewa Wrzosek (prosecutor, Association of Prosecutors “Lex super omnia”).

According to the regulations, the Medal of Freedom of Speech may be awarded to people who engage in activities for the common good, including, among others: civic, social, cultural, artistic, scientific, journalistic and publicistic. The event is organized in order to promote wise words in the social space and outstanding people who speak them, mature public debate and maintaining freedom of speech in Poland.

The event is organized by the Grand Press Foundation in order to promote wise words in the social space and outstanding people who speak them, mature public debate and maintain freedom of speech in Poland.

To date, the winners of the Medal of Freedom of Speech are:

READ MORE: Freedom of Speech Medal awarded. TVN24 journalist Piotr Świerczek awarded

A special medal from the Grand Press Foundation was awarded to: Marian Turski, Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, Jacek Fedorowicz, Stanisław Tym and Lech Walesa.