The second edition of the UCLG Peace Prize received an outstanding number of applications from cities and regions from all continents. The diversity of peace initiatives from local governments is inspiring. The different, contexts and approaches show how important the role of local governments is in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction in fragile contexts all over the world.
The applications have been checked for their eligibility, and are currently being carefully scored by the Jury. We are proud to present you with the members of the jury of the second edition of the UCLG Peace Prize.
Tadatoshi Akiba - He is the former mayor of Hiroshima and has joined the jury in the previous edition of the UCLG Peace Prize. Akiba has brought great improvements to municipal policies in the field of fiscal health, transparency, citizen service and youth violence. He has been a visible peace activist as a president of the World Conference for the Mayors for Peace, and an advocate of the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Wim Deetman is a retired Dutch politician and the former mayor of the Hague, the international city of peace and justice and will be joining the jury of the UCLG Peace Prize for the second time. He contributed to the decision of the international tribunal of the International Criminal Court being seated in the Hague. Mr Deetman is also former chair of the UCLG Committee on City Diplomacy, Peace building and Human Rights.
Katarina Kruhonja is the founder and director of Centre for Peace, Non Violence and Human Rights NGO in Osijek. In 1996,she retired as a medical doctor to join the post-war peacebuilding efforts, coordinating multi-ethnic peace teams which were supporting a processes of peaceful integration in Eastern Slavonia.
Dr Tarik Kupusović was the Lord Mayor of Sarajevo during the second half of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the siege of Sarajevo (1994-96). As President of the country’s Association of Towns and Cities he has established close relations with many cities and mayors of the world to restore the workings of local autonomous government in his country’s devastated cities. He was also on the jury of the first edition of the UCLG Peace Prize.
Professor Thulisile Nomkhosi “Thuli” Madonsela is a South African advocate and Professor of law, holding a chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University. She served as the Public Protector of South Africa and helped draft the final constitution of South Africa promulgated by Nelson Mandela.
Jerome Gama Surur is the state deputy governor of Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan. He played an important role in aiding internally displaced persons in the conflict in South Sudan and is an advocate of equal rights for all. He published his book about the role of humanitarian organizations in development of the young nation titled, ‘Reaping without Sowing’.
By the end of July, the applicants will hear back whether they were selected as one of the five finalists. These finalists will be asked to make a short video in which they explain and promote their initiative.
On the International Day of Peace (21 September), the finalists will be publicly announced. During the UCLG World Congress (11-15 November 2019) the winner will be announced.
- Read more about UCLG Peace Prize.
- Visit the dedicated website.