Statutes

The purpose of UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is to promote inclusion of persons with disabilities in society, translating human rights and fundamental freedoms into action, with emphasis on removing barriers to access information and knowledge, as well as learning and participation in society through the effective application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).

The objective of the Prize is in conformity with UNESCO’s policies and is related to the Programme of the Organization in the field of Enabling Universal Access and Preservation of Information and Knowledge, and has linkages to UNESCO programme in education, social and human sciences.

2.1 The Prize shall be entitled “UNESCO/Emir Jaber al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah Prize for Digital Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities”.

2.2. The Prize shall be funded by the Government of the State of Kuwait and shall consist of a contribution of US $251,948.88 for the two-year cycle of the Prize covering the editions 2016/2017 and 2018/2019. For the third edition 2020/2021 of the Prize, the Donor will provide additional funding. As determined by the Director-General, the interest on the sum will be deposited in the special account for the Prize, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of UNESCO, and the charges will be borne by the account for the cost of administering the Prize. The Prize shall consist of a total of US $40,000, equally divided between two prize-winners. The Prize will comprise also a diploma.

2.3. All funds received and the interest accrued thereon shall be kept in a special interestbearing account for the Prize.

2.4. The full staff support and operating/management costs of the Prize, including all costs related to the award ceremony and public information activities, estimated at US $251,948.88 for the two-year cycle covering the editions 2016/2017 and 2018/2019 shall be fully covered by the Government of the State of Kuwait. For the third edition 2020/201 of the Prize, the Donor will provide additional funding of US $125,974. To this end, the DirectorGeneral will determine a mandatory overhead cost amount to be applied and charged against the funds in the special account, which is to be established under the financial regulations for the Prize.

2.5. The Prize shall be awarded every two years.

Candidates shall have made a significant contribution to the cause of inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. Prizes may be conferred upon individuals, institutions, other entities or non-governmental organizations.

The Prize-winner/s, comprised of two laureates, shall be selected by the Director-General of UNESCO on the basis of the assessments and recommendations made to him/her by a Jury.

5.1 The Jury shall consist of a number of five independent members, consisting of personalities with a recognized reputation in the field covered, while also taking into consideration the need for equitable geographical distribution, gender equality and the principle of non-payment of honoraria. They shall be appointed by the Director-General for two-year period and for a maximum period of six years. Representatives and alternatives of Member of the Executive Board cannot be appointed as jurors. Jurors involved in a real or potential conflict of interest shall recuse themselves from further deliberations or be asked by the Director-General to do so. The Director-General may replace members of the jury for reason.

5.2 The Jury shall elect its own chair and deputy chair. Members shall receive no remuneration for their work, but will be receive allowances for travel and accommodation, where required. A quorum of three jurors present will be required for jury deliberations to proceed. The working languages for deliberations by a Jury shall be English and French.

5.3 The Jury shall conduct its business and deliberations in conformity with these Statutes and shall be assisted in the performance of its task by a member of the UNESCO Secretariat designated by the Director-General. Decisions of the Jury shall be taken by consensus to the extent possible and otherwise by secret ballot until a simple majority is obtained. A member shall not take part in a vote concerning a nomination from his or her country.

5.4 The Jury shall meet once every two years.

6.1 When UNESCO has received the funding of the Prize as indicated in Article 2 above, the Director-General of UNESCO shall officially invite the submission of nominations to the Secretariat of the Prize, by 10 June of the year of the award, from the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, as well as from nongovernmental organizations maintaining official partnerships with the Organization and active in relevant fields covered by a Prize.

6.2 Nominations shall be submitted to the Director-General by the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, and by non-governmental organizations maintaining official partnerships with UNESCO. A self-nomination cannot be considered.

6.3 Each nomination shall be accompanied by a written recommendation, which shall include, in English or French, inter alia:

(a) a description of the candidate’s background and achievements;

(b) a summary of the work or the results of the work, publications and other supporting documents of major importance, submitted for consideration;

(c) a definition of the candidate’s contribution to the Prize’s objectives.

7.1 The Prize shall be awarded by the Director-General at an official ceremony held for that purpose in UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France or other location, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December. UNESCO shall present to the Prize-winner/s a check for the amount of the Prize as well as diploma. UNESCO shall officially announce the name/s of the prize-winner/s.

7.2 If a work being rewarded has been produced by two or three persons, the Prize shall be awarded to them jointly. In no case may a Prize amount be divided between more than three persons.

7.3 The Prize-winner/s, if possible, shall give a lecture on a subject relevant to the work for which the Prize has been awarded. Such a lecture shall be organized during or in connection with the Prize ceremony. 

7.4 The work produced by a person since deceased shall not be considered for a Prize. If, however, a Prize-winner dies before he or she has received the Prize, then the Prize may be presented posthumously (awarded to relatives or institution). 7.5 Should a Prize-winner decline the Prize, the Jury shall submit a new proposal to the Director-General.

8.1 Six months prior to the agreed end of the term of the Prize, the Director-General of UNESCO together with the donor will undertake a review of all aspects of the Prize and decide about its continuation or termination. The Director-General will inform the Executive Board of UNESCO about the results of this review.

8.2 In case of termination of a Prize, the use of any unspent balance of funds shall be determined in consultation with the donor, in accordance with the financial regulations for the special account for the Prize.

No appeals shall be allowed against the decision of UNESCO with regard to the award of the Prize. Proposals received for the award of a Prize may not be divulged.

Any amendment to the present Statutes shall be submitted to the Executive Board for approval.