The Sicilian network "Addiopizzo" (Goodbye to Protection Money) has been honoured as the "Encouraging Initiative". Addiopizzo is a civil society association comprising more than a thousand Sicilian shops which stand up in protest against the protection money demands of the Sicilian Mafia.
A further award is presented to Pauline Tangiora, the peace and environmental activist from Aotearoa (New Zealand). As a member of the Maori, she connects the tribal knowledge of her ancestors and the message of protecting and preserving the planet.
Junior Nzita, the Congolese peace worker and voluntary UN ambassador, is also the recipient of a prize. He campaigns passionately and with great commitment against the cruel practice of making children go to war.
On November 17, 2017 the schwelle Foundation has confered the International Bremen Peace Award in the Bremen town hall. Patron of the Bremen Peace Award is Bremen’s mayor Karoline Linnert.