2017 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee held its 2017 Award Ceremony on February 3 at the Lotte Hotel World in Korea. As a prize founded on the vision for peace to build ‘One Family Under God,’ the Committee presented the refugee crisis as its core theme for the 2017 awards.

The award ceremony was attended by more than 800 delegates, including former laureate and former President of Kiribati HE Anote Tong who gave the congratulatory address, current and former presidents and vice presidents, among others representing various governments, academia, businesses, media, and religions. Members of the FFWPU USA delegation in Korea were particularly impressed by the program, the laureates, and the award itself, which stood for everything they had committed to in working toward True Parents’ vision for peace and re-inspired them to whole-heartedly follow this calling.

On November 29, 2016, the committee had officially announced its laureates to the world at a press conference in Washington, DC. Dr. Gino Strada, an Italian surgeon, and Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, an Afghan women’s education professor, were selected as co-recipients of the prize.

Dr. Gino Strada is highly regarded for his humanitarianism transcending national borders, saving the lives of eight million people over the past 28 years, providing urgent medical relief to refugees and war victims at the forefront of global disputes.

Dr. Sakena Yacoobi has been greatly recognized for her efforts to educate 13 million refugees at Afghan refugee camps devastated by the war, and offer a solution for their resettlement.

Each laureate received a prize of $500,000, as well as a medal and plaque presented by the founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and Committee Chairman Dr. Il Sik Hong, former president of Korea University, during the award ceremony.

Chairman Hong stated in his welcoming address that, “Presently as we face the largest number of displaced persons on the global level since World War II, the international community must make a transnational effort for the common benefit of humankind.” He added, “In order to create a world of lasting peace, the award’s founder emphasized the love for humanity that transcends divisions of race, national borders, ideology, and religion, and campaigned for a world where we no longer needed borders, because we recognize that we are all members of one human family.”

Chairman Hong asserted that, “At a time when the global refugee crisis seems to be worsening by the day, these two laureates, who have devoted their lives to fundamentally rebuilding the lives of refugees through providing the most essential of our rights to ‘medical aid’ and ‘education,’ are the heroes of this era.”

Through his Congratulatory Address, H.E. Anote Tong asserted, “The refugee crisis requires a global response, and therefore we must enhance the global effort through cooperation and coordination between all actors.”

Meanwhile, the celebration stage was arranged by musical arts director Kolleen Park, with the theme of “overcoming the global refugee crisis with respect and love for humanity.”  The collaborative performance, with musical actor Jaerim Choi, Kolleen Park, and the Korean traditional arts school Little Angels, created a fantastic harmony that highlighted the mood of the award ceremony.

The Sunhak Peace Prize biannually recognizes and honors individuals or organizations that have made enduring contributions to peace and human development for future generations.

After the award ceremony, the two laureates presented a special plenary lecture at the World Summit 2017 international conference.

For more information about the Sunhak Peace Prize, visit sunhakprize.com/eng.