Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Awards
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Michelle Bachelet, the first and only woman to serve as President of Chile and a former Chief of the UN Human Rights, receives the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize for 2024.
- Indira Gandhi Peace Prize – It is awarded annually and named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
- To commemorate her outstanding contribution to national and global well-being and to promote the causes which she espoused, in 1985.
- Also known as the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.
- Purpose – To honor individuals/organizations for outstanding contributions to peace, disarmament, and development.
- Established in – 1986.
- Awarded by – Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
- Prize – It includes a trophy with a citation and cash prize of Rs.10 million or its equivalent in a foreign exchange.
- Trophy – It is a square piece of banded Haematite Jasper, the same stone which is used at the samadhi of Indira Gandhi.
Haematite Jasper - one of the hardest varieties of stone found in India and is estimated to be 2000 million years old.
- Past Recipients – Mikhail Gorbachev (1987), UNHCR (1998), Angela Merkel (2013), WHO (2021), etc.
- Michelle Bachelet (2024 awardee)
- She was 1st woman of President of Chile (2006-2010 and 2014-2018), symbolizing progress in gender equality.
- As UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (2018–2022), she spoke against abuses worldwide, including in Myanmar, Xinjiang (China), and Ukraine.
- In Chile, she expanded social protection, improved healthcare, and promoted education reforms.
- As a part of global peace efforts, she advocated for nuclear disarmament and strengthening multilateral institutions.
To know more about the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, Click here
References
- Indian Express | Indira Gandhi Peace Prize, 2024
- IGMT | Indira Gandhi Peace Prize
