The tidy sum of €5,000 can be yours for presenting the winning entry of The Strickland Foundation’s writing competition.
The first runner-up will also go home with a cheque of €1,500.
Entrants over 18 are invited to write between 2,500 and 3,000 on one of the following three topics: Does Malta lag behind in the protection and observance of human rights? Are the Maltese generally complacent when it comes to defending their human rights? Is discrimination ever tolerable? When should discrimination become a human rights issue?
The Strickland Foundation promotes human rights, free press
The judges will be looking for clear thinking, competent use of the English language and originality in the research and expression of ideas.
Together with their entry, applicants must submit a 200-word synopsis of their entry.
Each contribution, in Word format, must also be accompanied by a covering letter in which the author has to declare that the essay is his/her original work.
Entries may take the form of an article, essay or even a short story.
The competition will lead to the fifth Mabel Strickland Memorial Lecture, for which the foundation plans to invite an eminent jurist specialising in human rights.
The Strickland Foundation, set up by Mabel Strickland in 1979, has as its main aims the promotion of democratic principles, human rights, free press, and voluntary organisations.
Ms Strickland, the daughter of Lord Strickland, was a journalist and politician.
The foundation’s flagship project is a journalism internship scheme, under which it is at present sponsoring three interns with media organisations. The scheme, launched last November, runs over three years.
The Strickland Foundation also sponsors public benefit work and has supported national heritage organisations.
Entries may be submitted online to the chief executive officer at: admin@thestricklandfoundation. com or by post to Chief Executive Officer, The Strickland Foundation, Villa Parisio, Mabel Strickland Street, Lija 1104. The deadline for submissions is October 31.