Award ceremony

On November 24, 2008 the Roland Berger Foundation presented the "Roland Berger Human Dignity Award" for the first time. Federal President Horst Köhler presented the award, which is accompanied by EUR 1 million, to Somaly Mam of Cambodia.

With the award, the Roland Berger Foundation honors and supports the award winner in her fight against sexual slavery and the human trafficking of children, teenagers and women, particularly in Southeast Asia. The award money of EUR 1 million goes to the Somaly Mam Foundation and is earmarked specifically for continuing and expanding the Foundation's work.

A documentation by the Roland Berger Foundation shows just how important this work is:
Today, slavery and human trafficking are flourishing more than ever before. Millions of people worldwide are victims. Children and women in particular, are sold into prostitution or forced to work as modern-day slaves in fields, factories and mines, often under miserable conditions. In recent years, this development has advanced this trend. The global volume of human trafficking has increased at least fourfold since the mid-1990s, making it number three in international organized crime, after arms and narcotics.

The entire award ceremony was broadcasted live on the Internet and via satellite. After the ceremony, broadcast-quality highlights of the event are available on demand to use and edit, also free of charge.