Nelson Mandela Prize 2020

• 21 Jul 2020

• The Nelson Mandela Prize for 2020 was awarded to Ms. Vardinoyannis from Greece and Dr.MorissandaKouyate from Guinea.
• The inaugural 2015 Prize was awarded to Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia and Mr. Jorge Fernando BrancoSampaio of Portugal.

Winners and their Work

• Vardinoyannis from Greece, has been involved in the fight against child cancer, medical care of refugee children and other vulnerable social groups, human rights education, and the fight against human trafficking.
• MorissandaKouyate from Guinea is a leading advocate on ending violence against women and girls in Africa. He initiated efforts to address violence against women with the African Union Commission, leading to the Maputo Protcol, Africa’s regional instrument on ending violence against women. He carried out exceptional efforts in the fight against harmful traditional practices, particularly for the elimination of the Female Genital Mutilations.

About the Award

• The United Nations Nelson Mandela Prize was established by the General Assembly to recognize the achievements of those who dedicate their lives to the service of humanity, by promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations while honouring and paying homage to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela’s extraordinary life and legacy of reconciliation, political transition and social transformation.
• It is awarded once every 5 years, commencing in 2015.
• Only two laureates (one female and one male) are selected but not from the same geographic region.
• The Prize is one of the ways the UN commemorates the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela, the first democratically-elected President of South Africa, and a life-long rights activist who was instrumental in ending the racist apartheid era in the country.
• The UN observes Nelson Mandela International Day annually on 18th July.