Nominations are now open for the Geoffrey Deckers Award 2022, a prize awarded by Cruelty Free Europe to honour small and medium-sized groups or coalitions working in Europe to end animal experiments. 

The winner will receive 6,000 euros to fund a campaign, training programme or outreach work that focuses on animal testing. 

Interested groups can read more information and download a short application form from our website. Alternatively, please email  info@crueltyfreeeurope.org. The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 30^th November 2021.

The successful recipient for 2022 will be announced on Geoffrey’s birthday, 13^th January.

The recipient of the very first award, announced earlier this year, was EcoVegAnimals (EVA), a group from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In 2020, EVA was successful in encouraging the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Sarajevo to end the use of live animals in its education programme. As well as a public awareness campaign, EVA is also using part of its grant to hold a Conference on Humane Innovations in Education which will be held on 12 and 13 November in Sarajevo. 

Geoffrey Deckers was the much-loved former chair of the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments and Cruelty Free Europe, who tragically passed away in June 2020. He was a dedicated animal protection campaigner who co-founded Dutch animal protection group, Een Dier Een Vriend (now Diervriendelijk Nederland) in 1998. 

Geoffrey went on to lead many successful campaigns in the Netherlands, across Europe and beyond. Most notable was his work to end the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research in the Netherlands, which saw the last chimps kept in European laboratories transferred to a sanctuary in 2006. 

Michelle Thew, Cruelty Free International Chief Executive who worked closely with Geoffrey in Europe for many years, said: “A strong commitment to togetherness shone through in Geoffrey. He naturally connected with animal groups and protection advocates worldwide and was always there to support and encourage anyone wanting to make a difference for animals.” 

Dr Katy Taylor of Cruelty Free Europe said: “This award honours Geoffrey and his commitment to partnership to advance animal protection. We are delighted that EVA won the first ever award, and we now look forward to celebrating and supporting another organisation in January.”