Croatian Roma awarded the Student Peace Prize 2011
Duško Kostić impressed the committee with his efforts to secure education for the Roma
minority in Croatia. Kostić is the first European who is awarded the Student Peace Prize.
36-year-old Duško Kostić has through various methods made a contribution to break down
stereotypes and help the peace-building process in Croatia. The committee has attached special
importance to his effort to communicate the value of education to the Roma community at all
levels. ISFiT wants to congratulate the new Laureate of the Student Peace Prize, which is awarded
on behalf of all students in Norway.
-Such a prize can be very helpful to my cause, and I think the recognition as a Student Peace Prize
Laureate will be very effective, the Laureate himself says.
“Everyday hero”
As founder and president of the organization “Association of Roma Friendship”, LUNA, the 36year-old Duško Kostić plays a leading role in spreading knowledge about the Roma. Since 2005
Duško Kostić has been visiting Roma families in Croatia to promote education for children and
youth. 94% of the participating pupils in his projects complete secondary school.
-The Roma is one of the most marginalized minorities in today’s Europe. Kostić’s work to improve
the consciousness of his own people’s conditions is excellent, committee member Vigdis Lian says.
The Student Peace Prize is a prize that encourages students who are fighting for peace, democracy
and human rights. Duško Kostić is also a political representative for the Romas in his home town;
Beli Manister in the eastern parts of Croatia. He has been characterized by the committee as “an
everyday hero that motivates others through emphasizing on education and peace building”. This
year’s prize emphasizes the value of education for peace building. Despite this, the Nobel Peace
Prize has never before been awarded to a candidate focusing on the importance of education.
Building bridges
While Roma are being expelled from France and Italy, this year’s Laureate builds bridges and
understanding between ethnic groups in a region formerly devastated by war. During the
Yugoslav wars, the Roma were often victims of discrimination and violent attacks from all
combating parties. Today, their situation is complicated by stereotypes and prejudice by the
majority, which makes the integration of the Roma with the rest of the society more difficult.
Croatia was in March 2010 judged by the European Court of Human Rights for the segregation of
Roma school children in the education system.
- We see an increasing crime rate and an amplified persecution of the Roma. The peace prize adds
nuance to the worsening news picture, says chairman of the Norwegian national commission for
UNESCO, Vigdis Lian. She is one of the four experts in the committee together with Ole Danbolt
Mjøs, Gro Holm, and Børge Brende.
The Laureate will visit Trondheim
The prize will be handed out to Duško Kostić at the Peace Prize ceremony in Trondheim, the 18th
of February. He will also be honoured with a memory plate in the new attraction in Jomfrugata,
Trondheim, called ”Walk of Peace”. ”Walk of Peace” is an attraction similar to the Walk of Fame in
Hollywood, and is a part of the ISFiT’s 20th anniversary. This attraction highlights Trondheim as
the only city where a peace prize is awarded from students to students.