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YEAR : 1981
ACTIVITY REWARDED : Promotion of all forms of action designed to construct the defences of peace in the minds of men and to alert public opinion and mobilize the conscience of mankind in the cause of peace.
PERIODICITY : Annual
VALUE : Approx. $60,000 - the exact amount to be decided each year on the basis of the interest accruing from the fund
FUNDING SOURCE : US$1 million donated by the Japan Shipbuilding
Industry Foundation
UNESCO PRIZE FOR PEACE EDUCATION
Background
The UNESCO Prize for Peace Education was established in 1980. The aim of the prize is to promote all forms of action designed to 'construct the defences of man in the minds of men' by rewarding a particularly outstanding example of activity designed to alert public opinion and mobilize the conscience of humanity in the cause of peace.
Who can nominate?
Member States of UNESCO, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations maintaining official relations with UNESCO and persons whom the Director-general deems qualified in the field of peace may nominate an individual, a group of individuals, or an organization whose activites are considered to merit this distinction.
Who may be eligible for nomination?
The prizewinners are designated by the Director-General on the basis of proposals submitted by an international jury consisting of nine eminent personalities from different regions of the world.
The candidates must have distinguished themselves through outstanding and internationally recognized action extending over several years in the following fields: - the mobilization of consciences in the cause of peace; - the implementation, at regional or international level, of programmes of activities designed to strengthen peace education by enlisting the support of the public opinion; - the launching of important activites contributing to the strengthening of peace; - educational action to promote human rights and international understanding; - the promotion of public awareness of the problems of peace through the media and other effective channels; - any other activity recognized as essential to the construction of the defences of peace in the minds of men.
Furthermore, persons and organizations in the creative arts who through their artistic creativity have made significant contributions to the promotion of peace and international understanding.
UNESCO Prize for Peace Education laureates (1981-1998)
1981 Ms Helena Kekkonen (Finland) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
1982 Stockolm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
1983 Pax Christi International.
1984 International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW).
1985 General Indar Jit Rikhye (India) and the Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research (Federal Republic of Germany).
1986 Professor Paulo Freire (Brazil).
1987 Ms Laurence Deonna (Switzerland) and "Servicio Paz y Justicia en America Latina".
1988 Brother Roger of Taizé (France).
1989 Dr Robert Muller (France) and the International Peace Research Association (IPRA).
1990 Ms Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala) and the World Order Models Project (WOMP).
1991 Ms Ruth Leger Sivard (United States) and Cours Sainte Marie de Hann (Senegal).
1992 Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
1993 Ms Madeleine de Vits (Belgium) and The Graduate Institute For Peace Studies (Republic of Korea).
1994 The Venerable Prayudh Payutto (Thailand).
1995 The Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (Austria).
1996 Ms Chiara Lubich (Italy).
1997 Mr François Giraud (France).
1998 Educators for Peace and Mutual Understanding (Ukraine). Honourable mentions : Fridtjof Nansen Academy (Norway), World Court Project (New Zealand), Ulpan Akiva Netanya (Israel).
1999 Argentina's Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Honourable mentions: Irene Drolet (Canada), Association for Peace Education of Tübingen (Germany); Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Angola.