Award winners and objectives

Every two years, the WWL awards the International Award of the Peace of Westphalia, honoring special commitment to sustainable peace and international understanding. At 100,000 euros, the award is the most valuable peace prize awarded by business. Historically, the award is linked to the Peace of Westphalia, which was concluded in the town halls of Münster and Osnabrück in 1648 – a milestone in the history of European unification.

We awarded the prize for the first time in 1998 on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of the Peace of Westphalia. The venue for the award ceremony is the historic town hall in Münster. The award honors international personalities or representatives of states and institutions who, through their commitment, have a long-term peace-building and integrative effect and have thus made a contribution to peace in Europe and the world.

In a second category, the prize goes to children, teenagers or young adults who have become a role model for balance and peace through their selfless actions. Their actions, also supported by youth organizations, are a strong role model with great appeal for the young generation.

Would you like to find out more about our previous award winners, youth award winners, laudators and the background to the award ceremony? Then feel free to click through our gallery.