On 2 October 2013 the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) bestowed the “Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Medal” upon the Prime Minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning-Schmidt. The ceremony took place at the Royal Danish Opera.
The Prime Minister received the Raoul Wallenberg Centennial Medal on behalf of those Danes who contributed to the rescue of thousands of Danish Jews in 1943. Baruch Tenembaum, founder of the IRWF, presented the award accompanied by Perla Graisman, IRWF Global Development Director.
Jens Ege, member of the Danish underground resistance against the Nazis attended the ceremony.
“Many Danish people didn’t stand idly by and helped save many lives. Some of the Rescuers have been properly identified and honored. Others, due to the difficulty in reconstructing their stories and because of the application of stringent requirements, remain in anonymity.”, said Eduardo Eurnekian, IRWF Chairman.
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission sent a congratulation letter “The conferral of such distinction is a strong gesture, full of meaning and high symbolism. Indeed, this medal is a fine and worthy way to commemorate the valorous Danish rescuers who risked their lives in order to save their Jewish compatriots during the Second World War.”, he wrote.
“The guiding example of the Rescuers remains an everlasting beacon of hope that teaches us that individuals can make a difference, even in the most stressing and dangerous situations.”, said Danny Rainer, Vicepresident of the Wallenberg Foundation in the opening speech.
The mission of the IRWF, a global-reach NGO, is to research, preserve and promote the brave legacies of Raoul Wallenberg and his likes, courageous women and men who, during the Shoah and in other conflicts, helped save the life of persecuted people. More than 300 Heads of State and Nobel Laureates support its mission. Jorge Bergoglio, Pope Francis, is one of its founding members.
In 2012 the Wallenberg Foundation instituted a US$ 500,000 reward for reliable and scientifically verifiable information that could help bring Wallenberg and his driver, Vilmos Langfelder, back to Sweden. The announcement was first made on August 2012 to United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.
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