Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence award ceremony on 16 November, UNESCOPRESS, 10 November 2009
François Houtart (Belgium) and Abdul Sattar Edhi (Pakistan) to share 2009 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, UNESCOPRESS, 20 October 2009
The Prize, established through the generous donation of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Indian artist, writer and diplomat Mr Madanjeet Singh, honors his lifelong commitment to the cause of peace and tolerance.
The creation of the Prize in 1995 marked the United Nations Year for Tolerance and the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi.
Periodicity and value
Since 1996, the Prize has been awarded every two years and, since 2002, it amounts to
US $ 100,000. In 2009, the Prize will be awarded for the seventh time.
Who can win the Prize?
The Prize may be awarded to institutions, organizations or persons who have contributed in a particularly meritorious and effective manner to tolerance and non-violence.
Who can submit nominations?
In accordance with the Statutes of the Prize, nominations shall be submitted to the Director-General of UNESCO by Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, as well as by non-governmental organizations maintaining formal consultative relations with the Organization, especially those concerned with human rights. A self-nomination cannot be considered.
How to submit nominations
Each nomination must be submitted on the relevant form and shall be accompanied by a written recommendation of not more than five standard pages in length which should include a precise description of the activities accomplished and the results achieved and a definition of the candidate’s contribution to the promotion of tolerance and non-violence. A standard form for candidature presentation in English and French, as well as the Statutes of the Prize are available on the website of UNESCO.
A call for nominations is made in conformity with Article 6 of the Statutes of the Prize and can be found on the website of UNESCO. The deadline for submission of nominations to the Director-General of UNESCO is 15 July of the year the award is made.
Who designates laureates?
The laureate is chosen by the Director-General of UNESCO upon the recommendation of an International Jury comprising five members with internationally recognized reputation in the field of peace, human rights, tolerance and non-violence from different regions of the world.
Awarding of the Prize
The announcement of the name of the laureate is made in the form of a UNESCO press release disseminated around the world. This information is also available on the UNESCO website.
The prize is awarded by the Director-General at an official ceremony held for that purpose at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 16 November, International Day for Tolerance and the anniversary of the foundation of UNESCO.
Download the brochure on the Prize [PDF, 1.9 MB]
Contact:
Division of Human Rights, Human Security and Philosophy
1 rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15 France
Tel.: +33 (0)1 45 68 38 22 / 38 42 / 38 45
Fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 57 26
E-mail: i.zoubenko-laplante@unesco.org
Laureates of the Prize
1996- Association of 32 non-governmental women’s organizations "Pro-femmes Twese Hamwe" of Rwanda
1998- Narayan Desai, educator and peace activist of India
- Joint Action Committee for Peoples Rights of Pakistan
2000- Pope Shenouda III, the head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church
2002- Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar
2004- Taslima Nasreen, writer from Bangladesh
2006- Veerasingham Anandasangaree from Sri Lanka, President of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF).
A tireless defender of democracy and peaceful conflict resolution, Veerasingham Anandasangaree has helped improve knowledge of the Tamul cause, through dialogue, through the promotion of non-violent solutions in Sri Lanka and by taking a stand against terrorism.
2009- François Houtart (Belgium) received the award for his life-long commitment to world peace, intercultural dialogue, human rights and the promotion of tolerance, and in recognition of his outstanding eff orts to advance the cause of social justice in the world. He is ardent promoter of North-South cooperation and the founder of the Tri-Continental Centre (CETRI), a non-governmental organization renowned for its work on development issues and in the International Council of the World Social Forum. Known throughout his life as a defender of human rights, he has contributed significantly to the advancement of the inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue. As a noted sociologist of religions and theology, he has authored numerous publications and given lectures in over 100 universities around the world.
- Abdul Sattar Edhi (Pakistan) received the award for his life-long eff orts to ameliorate the conditions of the most disadvantaged groups in Pakistan and South Asia, and to promote the ideals of human dignity, human rights, mutual respect and tolerance. He is one of the most active philanthropists in Pakistan through his Edhi Foundation, which he created in 1957. A non-profit social welfare programme with over 300 centres across Pakistan, the foundation provides the needy with medical aid, family planning, emergency assistance and education. It sets up maternity homes, mental asylums, homes for the physically handicapped, blood banks and orphanages, among other services. Branches in several other countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia etc.) bring relief to refugees and other victims of strife and natural disasters. Dr Edhi is renowned for his active stand against extremism and his support of human rights as well as for his humanitarian efforts.
See also:
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Name
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UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence
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Short Description
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The UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence rewards significant activities in the scientific, artistic, cultural or communication fields aimed at the promotion of a spirit of tolerance and non-violence.
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