Press release (translated)
At this year’s Council of Europe World Forum for Democracy, KlimaSeniorinnen won the Democracy Innovation Award 2026. According to the organizers, the forum brought together around 1,400 participants from 60 countries worldwide in Strasbourg on 2 and 3 November 2026. KlimaSeniorinnen were honoured for their tireless and persistent commitment to protecting human rights from the dangers of advancing global warming.
Since the landmark ruling by the European Court of Human Rights in April 2024, KlimaSeniorinnen have been campaigning for Switzerland to implement it. Elisabeth Stern and Rosmarie Wydler-Wälti therefore represented KlimaSeniorinnen at the Council of Europe’s World Forum for Democracy, where they were awarded the Democracy Innovation Award 2026. This important award comes just a few weeks before the December review of the ruling’s implementation by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.
Elisabeth Stern, a board member of KlimaSeniorinnen Switzerland, says: “This award is a reward for our work to protect human rights from the consequences of global warming. The Council of Europe is thereby recognising the tireless commitment of us older women. We are committed to ensuring that democratic institutions are respected and that progress is finally made on climate action. Full of enthusiasm and confidence, we will continue our efforts with this recognition.”
“Without a more drastic reduction in climate-damaging emissions by Switzerland and by all other countries, our human rights and those of our grandchildren cannot be adequately protected. The extreme summer of 2026 is a wake-up call for us all. We are now counting on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to continue to advocate for Switzerland’s full compliance with the ruling at its December session. After all, Switzerland has still not implemented the ruling. Anything else would undermine the credibility of the institutions”, adds Rosmarie Wydler-Wälti, Co-President of KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz.
The presentation of the Democracy Innovation Award recognises the commitment of KlimaSeniorinnen. Their work goes far beyond climate and health protection: through their commitment, KlimaSeniorinnen touch on the very heart of democracy, respect for human rights and the credibility of the rule of law, as upheld by the Council of Europe.