based Multi-purpose Women's Cooperative (Herfah), a non-governmental organization, jointly won the Chaillot Prize 2010. Herfah shared the Chaillot Prize with the Kuwait Lawyers Association, while Tawasul, an Omani-based social organization received the second prize. The award was initiated in 2008 by a delegation of the European Union (EU) in Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Luigi Narbone, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Saudi Arabia, awarded the prizes to all three winners at a ceremony held at its premises in Riyadh, Saturday. A number of ambassadors from EU countries in Saudi Arabia and other diplomats attended the event. After the awards ceremony, Narbone told Saudi Gazette that the Delegation of the EU in Saudi Arabia, which also covers other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, initiated the Chaillot Prize in 2008 to honor achievements of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are engaged in helping vulnerable sections of society, including orphans, people with disabilities and women. Narbone said the Delegation of the European Union in Saudi Arabia decided to take the initiative to introduce the Chaillot Prize, in recognition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that was presented to the United Nations General Assembly at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris, and was adopted on Dec. 10, 1948. The annual award, he said, is open to institutions, civil society groups, individuals, and private and public entities in the GCC, to recognize their work in areas of human rights promotion. Narbone said that when the award was first launched in 2008 there was only one recipient. “This year we decided to award three organizations selected from 20 entries,” he said. The Riyadh-based Al-Nahda Philanthropic Women's Society was the winner of the Chaillot Prize in 2008, he said. The Bahrain-based Be Free Center was the winner in 2009. The Chaillot 1st Prize carries a cash award of 9,000 euros or SR45,000. Nawal Al-Ajazi, Vice Chairperson of Herfah, received the prize on behalf of Princess Noura Bint Mohammed Al-Saud, Chairperson and Board Member. In her speech, Al-Ajazi said women's issues in Saudi Arabia deserve special consideration in terms of human rights protection, social security and better workplace conditions. Saudi women also need the tools and means to allow them to demonstrate their creativity and earn a sustainable income, she said. “Herfah was established in 2003 to help promote Saudi women artisans and promote the handicraft industry,” Al-Ajazi said. Herfah has about 35 employees, 160 women members and 350 families supported on a sustainable basis, she added. Explaining Herfah's objectives, she said the organization works to promote business and employment opportunities for women artisans, offers counseling to women craft workers, and creates projects that support families working from home. Herfah established the First Business Forum in Riyadh in 2007 with the participation of over 140 women craft workers. It has also organized a traditional fashion show under the theme of “We Together as One” to support women's handicrafts. “Herfah's support has changed the life of one of the women artisans who has skills in embroidery. The lady is now earning a basic monthly income of SR4,000. She was able to pay back all her loans,” Al
