As with last year’s awards, this year’s medals provide particular recognition for work in the fight against Covid-19 and how citizens have tackled this crisis. Eighteen of the twenty-five medals proposed are for organisations and groups in the city, while seven are for individuals.

Two of the five Barcelona Medals of Honour for 2021 to be awarded at a city level recognise public transport workers (TMB) and social services staff (IMSS) in the city. As essential services, they have had to face exceptional circumstances, demonstrating a real vocation for public service. The other medals recognise the work of three organisations fighting for the rights of the most vulnerable during the pandemic, such as those with mental health disorders (Federació Catalana de Salut Mental), young children (Xarxa dels Drets dels Infants) and the elderly (Coordinadora Residències 5+1).

The twenty medals proposed by district councils also recognise people and organisations which stand out for their role during the Covid-19 crisis, as well as those working to combat sexist violence, boost local commerce, culture, community action, sports, people’s rights and more. These are:

Ciutat Vella

• Staff at the five primary healthcare centres (CAP), not only for their commitment to healthcare, but also for tackling social, economic and community issues.
• The Club Natació Barceloneta women’s water polo team, for their sporting achievements and the values they transmit in favour of women’s rights and freedoms.

L’Eixample

• The organisation Hèlia Dones, for its work with the community, on the awareness and empowerment of women who have suffered or who live with sexist violence.
• Irene Beltran, for her community action, which has helped give visibility to people with functional diversity.

Sants-Montjuïc

• Lluís Llanas, as the chair of the Creu Coberta shopping hub over the last twenty years, and vice-chair of Barcelona Comerç.
• Fundació Mans a les Mans, for its work in the education, training and socio-labour integration of children, teenagers and young people, and its commitment in the neighbourhood of La Marina, going back over 15 years.

Les Corts

• Dolors Estivill, for her support for people in grieving processes, particularly at times as tough as those arising with the current pandemic.
• The soup kitchen El Pa de Sant Oleguer, for its work of over twenty years providing community support for people in vulnerable situations, regardless of their age, origin or religion.

Sarrià – Sant Gervasi

• Flora Miserachs, an icon in floral art, highly involved in improving the neighbourhood of Sarrià.
• Teatre La Gleva, for its cultural militancy, for helping to build the neighbourhood and providing an example and encouragement in a situation as complex as the pandemic.

Gràcia

• Club d’escacs Tres Peons, for its fifty years of history, devoted to the practice and teaching of chess.
• Víctor Nubla, posthumously, for his work as a musician, theorist, essayist, activist in experimentalism, writer, ideologist, programmer, editor and cultural agitator.

Horta-Guinardó

• The organisation Carmel Comerç, for its 25 years of work to foster local commerce.
• Community centres in Horta-Guinardó, for their work to strengthen the community and guarantee support for people in vulnerable situations.

Nou Barris

• Unió de comerciants Fabra Centre, for their work around Passeig de Fabra i Puig to strengthen the community, develop mutual support networks and ensure support for particularly vulnerable people in Nou Barris.
• Club de Futbol Montañesa, devoted to sports and educational training since 1927.

Sant Andreu

• Magdalena Juvé, for her work at the head of the Associació de Dones Pal·las Atenea and her work in favour of gender equality.
• Grup d’Amics Gais (GAG), which defends LGBTI rights.

Sant Martí

• Miquel Mateu, for his links to associations in the district and his work towards the international promotion of Barcelona.
• Associació de Veïns i Veïnes de la Verneda – Via Trajana, for their work of over sixty years defending better life conditions for local people in this area.

The Full Council also approved the Medals of Honour and specific recognition plaques for the City Police in the various categories.