At the Federation Global Initiative on Psychiatry (FGIP), our strength comes from the incredible people who drive our mission forward. Without the passion and commitment of our members, none of this would be possible. Together, we are stronger and can achieve far more in advancing human rights in psychiatry. That’s why we are especially proud to announce that the Geneva Prize for Human Rights in Psychiatry 2024 has been awarded to Valentina Hristakeva for her groundbreaking work in transforming mental health services in Bulgaria.
Ms. Hristakeva has spent decades working tirelessly in Bulgaria to transform mental health services, deinstitutionalize care, and empower vulnerable populations. Her visionary leadership in policy development and advocacy, combined with her focus on resilience and rights-based approaches, has made a lasting impact on mental health care in the region. Her remarkable work, particularly for those with disabilities and serious mental health issues, exemplifies the spirit of the Geneva Prize.
The jury report summarized Ms. Hristakeva’s accomplishments as follows:
The jury decided unanimously to award the Geneva Prize 2024 to Valentina Hristakeva:
Valentina Hristakeva was born in Bulgaria and received a BC of Social Sciences. In 1998 she joined the Association of Reformers in Psychiatry and subsequently had several positions related to the Global Initiative of Psychiatry in Sofia, until she became the Executive Director of the Global Initiative in Sofia in 2002. Ms. Hristakeva has created an integrated user – focused community service and a model rights-based mental health service complex. She has also played a pivotal role in the introduction of changes at the Health Act in the area of mental health which guarantees the rights of persons with disabilities and serious mental health problems in Bulgaria. Her work as an advocate for one of the most vulnerable groups in society has taken place in a society with a need for modernization of psychiatry, and it has had important impact on the daily practice in mental health care. Ms. Hristakeva has for decades fought for deinstitutionalizing and transforming institutional care, for empowering users, carers and professionals. The emphasis of the NGO is no longer on illness or deficiency, but on people themselves, on their resilience as relational, contextual beings.
Further, she has played a pivotal role in policy development and advocacy, as well as in implementing anti-stigma and public awareness campaigns for people with mental illness who due to the specificity of their mental condition or life circumstances have been unable to reach the system of social and health care and receive adequate and quality care and support.
In the light of these achievements, the jury finds that Valentina Hristakeva is an excellent recipient of the Geneva Prize for her sustainable work and her remarkable achievements.