Mandela prize up for grabs

Mandela

The United Nations has called for nominations for the 2020 United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize.

It was established in June 2014 by the United Nations 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 the late Nelson Mandela’s extraordinary life and legacy of reconciliation, political transition and social transformation.

First awarded in 2015, it recognized two outstanding individuals: Dr. Helena Ndume of Namibia, an ophthalmologist whose life’s work has been the treatment of blindness and eye-related illnesses, both in Namibia and throughout the developing world; and former President of Portugal, H.E. Mr. Jorge Fernando Branco Sampaio, a leader in the struggle for the restoration of democracy in his country.

Nominations for the 2020 prize will be accepted until 28 February 2020.

The award is presented every five years to two individuals: one female and one male.

Laureates will be selected by a United Nations committee chaired by the President of the General Assembly and composed of representatives of six member states, including representatives from each of the five regional groups, a representative of the Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations and five eminent individuals who will serve as ex-officio members.

The United Nations Department of Global Communications will serve as the committee’s secretariat.

It’s expected that the laureates will be announced in May 2020 and the prizes awarded at United Nations Headquarters in New York during the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July.