UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence

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.

The Director-General pays tribute to the memory of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Laureate of the 2000 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence

The Director-General expressed her condolences for the passing of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III on 17 March.

“It is with great sadness that I learnt of the passing away of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist. On behalf of UNESCO and in my own name, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies to the Egyptian Government and all the people of Egypt for this sad loss,” declared the Director-General in a letter to the Head of State of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.

His Holiness Shenouda III was deeply committed to promoting tolerance and intercultural and interfaith dialogue. UNESCO awarded to Pope Shenouda III the 2000 UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, in acknowledgement of his commitment to peace. The Prize recognized his outstanding contribution to “promoting exchange and understanding between Christianity and Islam in today’s Middle East, his pursue of dialogue with all the great religious faiths and his major role in forging ecumenical links with all other members of the Christian family throughout the planet.”

During his acceptance speech for the Prize, delivered at UNESCO Headquarters, he had declared: "There is a way you can overcome your enemy, it is by changing your enemy into a friend, we need to win friends everywhere. [...] Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Gentleness and meekness are needed to have peace."

Laureates - 2011 Edition

Established through the generous donation of the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Indian artist, writer and diplomat Mr Madanjeet Singh, the prize 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 2011, the Prize will be awarded for the eighth 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 the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, by non-governmental organizations and foundations maintaining official relations with the Organization and active in a field covered by the Prize, as well as by former laureates of the Prize, eminent persons qualified in the opinion of the Director-General and by any person or civil society organization working for the advancement of a culture of peace, human rights, non-violence and tolerance in the world and considered suitable.

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.

Secretariat of the Prize
Ms Angela Melo
Secretary of the Prize
Director
Division of Human Rights, Human Security and Philosophy
Sector of Social and Human Sciences
1 rue Miollis, 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France
Tel.: +33 (0)1 45 68 38 17
Fax: +33 (0)1 45 68 57 26
E-mail: a.melo(at)unesco.org

Ms Irina Zoubenko-Laplante
Human Rights, Gender Equality and Elimination of Racial Discrimination Section
Sector of Social and Human Sciences
Tel.: +33 (0)1 45 68 38 22
E-mail: i.zoubenko-laplante(at)unesco.org