The award honours Geoffrey Deckers, the much respected and loved former Chair of the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments and subsequently Cruelty Free Europe, who passed away in June 2020. 

Geoffrey was a dedicated animal protection campaigner who co-founded Dutch animal protection group, Diervriendelijk Nederland, in 1998. He went on to lead many successful campaigns in the Netherlands, across Europe and beyond. Most notable was the ending of the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research in the Netherlands, which saw the last chimps kept in European laboratories transferred to a sanctuary in 2006.

The annual award of 6,000 Euros will be offered to successful applicants on 13th January each year to mark Geoffrey’s birthday. The award will be given to groups that demonstrate a commitment to ending animal testing and projects that are likely to make the most efficient and effective use of the funds towards that goal. 

Michelle Thew, Chief Executive at Cruelty Free Europe, says: “A strong commitment to togetherness shone through in Geoffrey. He naturally connected with animal groups and animal protection advocates worldwide and was always there to support and encourage anyone who wanted to make a difference for animals. The Geoffrey Deckers Award is our way of honouring and continuing Geoffrey’s spirit for outreach and partnership.”

Adrie van Steijn, Chair, Diervriendelijk Nederland, says: “With this award honouring all that Geoffrey has done for animals makes losing him a little easier to bear, we lost him too suddenly and way too young. He still had so much to do to make sure animals would get a better life with less suffering. This way, other animal friends can carry on what he couldn't finish.”

Award process:

Application letters must be received by 31 December to info@crueltyfreeeurope.org The winning applicant will be decided by the Cruelty Free Europe Board of Directors and awarded on 13 January 2021.

Eligibility criteria

• The awarded group should:
  • Be based in the continent of Europe
  • Be committed to ending animal experiments 
  • Be a non-violent organization.
• Annual income of the group must be less than 100,000 Euros per year.
• Awards will be given towards projects related to ending animal testing. This may be a public campaign, training, outreach or coordination activities.
• Groups can benefit more than once.
• Cruelty Free Europe Associate Members can benefit.
• Interested groups must apply in writing outlining:
  • the constitution of their organisation, confirming that they fit the criteria above
  • what they currently do
  • what the funds will be used for
• Successful applicants must agree to report back in writing on the expenditure of the funds by 30 November that same year and include photos(s) for sharing on social media.