Hans Thoolen on Human Rights Defenders and their awards

October seems to be very much the season of awards. Tonight is the MEA announcement and yesterday UNHCR presented the 2015 Nansen Refugee Award to Afghan refugee teacher Aqeela Asifi:

“When I first set up my school I was not very optimistic. This success is beyond my expectations. Let the dove of peace be our messenger, let us shun the culture of war and weapons and let us promote the culture of pen and education. That’s the only way, my dear brothers and sisters, that we can bring peace and prosperity to our country.” Asifi said.

The Award ceremony, in Geneva’s Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, featured performances from UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and two-time Grammy winner, Angelique Kidjo, and UNHCR Honorary Lifetime Goodwill Ambassador, Barbara Hendricks.

More about the Nansen award: http://www.brandsaviors.com/thedigest/award/nansen-medal

To learn more about Aqeela’s story: here

Source: UNHCR – UNHCR presents Nansen Refugee Award to Afghan refugee teacher

This entry was posted on October 6, 2015 at 16:50 and is filed under awards, human rights, UN.

Tags: Afghanistan, Aqeela Asifi, awards, Barbara Hendricks, digest of human rights awards, Education, Geneva, Nansen medal, Nansen Refugee Award, Pakistan, refugees