UNESCO’s Director General Irina Bokova awarded the edition 2017 of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Prize to the former mayor of Lampedusa, Giuseppina Nicolini.
The Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize was created in 1989 by the Ivory Coast under the patronage of UNESCO, in order to honor individuals, public and private bodies or institutions that have made a significant contribution to promoting peace in conformity with the Constitution of UNESCO. Past laureates of the Prize have included personalities such as French President François Hollande, Nelson Mandela and Frederik W. De Klerk; Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Yasser Arafat; King Juan Carlos of Spain and former U.S.A. President, Jimmy Carter. The Italian community of Sant’Egidio was awarded in 2000.
Giuseppina Nicolini, who was awarded for the « work done in saving the lives of refugees and migrants and welcoming them with dignity », pronounced an allocution which was very much appreciated by the numerous high-profile guests, among which the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Yves Le Drian, the President of Ivory Coast and the former Presidents of Senegal and Mozambico.
In her speech, Ambassador Vincenza Lomonaco, Ithe talian Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, remembered the key role played by Italy in rescuing thousands of migrants and refugees. She also underlined the importance of intercultural dialogue and called for a joint intervention, inspired by the principles of welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating.
The Prix was awarded ex-equo to the French ONG SOS Mediterranée.
