Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development (2025)
Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development (2025)
Context
The Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust announced the recipient of its prestigious annual award, highlighting the intersection of human rights, education, and global peace. The prize continues its legacy of honoring individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to international peace and development.
About the News
- Winner: Graça Machel, the renowned Mozambican politician and social activist.
- Significance: She is uniquely distinguished as the only woman in history to have been the First Lady of two different nations (Mozambique and South Africa), using her platform to drive systemic change across the African continent.
Reason for Award:
- Educational Reform: Recognized for her transformative work in increasing literacy rates and advocating for universal access to quality education in Africa.
- Rights of Women and Children: Honored for her decades-long struggle to protect children from the impacts of armed conflict and for promoting the legal rights of women.
- Economic Empowerment: Acknowledged for her initiatives through the Graça Machel Trust, which focuses on nurturing African women’s leadership and financial inclusion.
- Global Advocacy: Her leadership in "The Elders" (an international non-governmental organization of public figures) was cited as a key factor in her selection.
Background of the Indira Gandhi Prize
- Establishment: Launched in 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust in memory of India’s former Prime Minister.
- Objective: To recognize exceptional efforts in promoting international peace, disarmament, and a new international economic order.
- The Award: Consists of a monetary prize of ₹2.5 million (25 lakh rupees) and a citation.
- Selection Process: A jury of eminent national and international personalities, chaired by notable leaders (previously including former Vice Presidents or Chief Justices), selects the winner.