On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF) was presented with the prestigious Nuremberg International Human Rights Award at a special ceremony held in the city of Nuremberg, Germany.
Receiving the award on behalf of PCFF were two bereaved mothers and members of the PCFF, Robi Damelin and Laila Alsheikh. Through their personal stories and their dedicated work, they embody the PCFF’s vision: mutual recognition of shared pain and an unwavering commitment to ending the cycle of bloodshed, while promoting reconciliation, dialogue, and peace.
This unique prize was inspired by the renowned artwork of Dani Karavan, Way of Human Rights, located in the heart of Nuremberg. The installation stands as a global symbol of the fight for human rights. The award’s jury currently includes, among others, artists and creator Noa Karavan, Dani Karavan’s daughter.
Considered one of the most prestigious awards in its field, the Nuremberg International Human Rights Award has been presented biennially since 1995 to individuals and organizations working to protect human rights and promote peace — often under extremely challenging and dangerous conditions. The prize also includes a monetary grant of €25,000, symbolizing not only recognition of PCFF’s extraordinary work but also practical support for continuing its mission.
The jury stated that PCFF was chosen for this award in recognition of three decades of unique work bringing together Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones in the conflict. Through its programs, PCFF has transformed shared grief into a driving force for action in pursuit of freedom, rights, security, and peace.
The jury emphasized the PCFF’s dialogue meetings, in which Israelis and Palestinians come together to share their personal stories of loss and their courageous decision to choose reconciliation. They also highlighted the annual Joint Memorial Day Ceremony, where both sides mourn together and acknowledge each other’s pain. Importantly, the jury noted that even after October 7th and the brutal war that followed, the PCFF continued its work with determination — maintaining connections among its members, finding creative ways to conduct activities online, and demonstrating that even in times of deep polarization and hostility, dialogue and understanding are possible.
According to the jury, the PCFF’s work shows that empathy and curiosity about the other side can overcome enmity and serve as an inspiration for others to break down walls of fear.
Nadine Quomsieh & Ayelet Harel, the Co-Directors of the PCFF, said:
“This recognition strengthens us and reminds us all that it is possible — and indeed our duty — to end the war and the killing and to choose the path of reconciliation and understanding, even in the most difficult moments.”
The Parents Circle – Families Forum brings together hundreds of Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones in the ongoing conflict. For the past 30 years, PCFF has been working to promote dialogue, education for peace, and mutual recognition.
Over the past two years, around 120 new members — both Israelis and Palestinians — have joined the organization, strengthening its shared call to end the cycle of revenge and bloodshed.