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List of Nansen Refugee Award recipients

Annual award issued by UNHCR


Annual award issued by UNHCR

FieldValue
imageNansen_refugee_award.jpg
captionLogo
nameNansen Refugee Award
awarded_forOutstanding service to the cause of refugees
presenterUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
locationGeneva
year1954
website
image2Nansen medal(Small).jpgcaption2=The top of the Nansen Medal reads: "Nestekjærlighet er Realpolitik" (English: Altruism is Practical Politics)reward=US$150,000

The Nansen Refugee Award is a medal issued annually by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to an individual, group or organisation in recognition of outstanding service to the cause of refugees, displaced or stateless people. The award was established by UNHCR the organisation's first High Commissioner, Gerrit Jan van Heuven Goedhart, in 1954 as a tribute to Fridtjof Nansen. Fridtjof Nansen was a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, explorer and League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the award was established in honour of his work to support refugees. Van Heuven Goedhart felt that creating an award would increase the world's attention to the needs of refugees and increase global refugee aid.

The inaugural awardee was Eleanor Roosevelt in 1954. Every year, the prize is presented at a ceremony in the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, in Geneva. The medal is accompanied by a US$150,000 prize. The award was expanded in 2017 to include regional winners for Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East and Europe.

In 2018, the award was described as the "other Nobel" prize by NPR.

List of annual laureates

YearImageLaureateCountryOffice held, or rationaleRef.
1954[[File:Eleanor Roosevelt portrait 1933.jpgframeless164x164pxalt=Black and white image of Eleanor Roosevelt smiling]]Eleanor RooseveltUSAas "the first chair of the UN Human Rights Commission"title=List of winners, 1954–2012url=https://www.acnur.org/fileadmin/Documentos/Eventos/2013/Ganadores_Premio_Nansen_1954-2012.pdf?file=fileadmin/Documentos/Eventos/2013/Ganadores_Premio_Nansen_1954-2012website=UNHCRlanguage=es}}
1955[[File:Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, 1961 studio portrait (by Max Koot) – Nationaal Archief.jpgframeless164x164pxalt=Black and white image portret Koningin Juliana]]Queen JulianaNetherlandsas Queen of Netherlands
1956Dorothy D. HoughtonUSAas "president of the Federation of Women's Clubs, delegate to the Geneva conferences of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration and director of the Office of Refugees Migration and Voluntary Assistance"
[[File:HeuvenGoedhart1944 (cropped).jpgframeless186x186pxalt=van Heuven Goedhart wearing a dark jacket, white shirt, dark tie]]Gerrit Jan van Heuven GoedhartNetherlandsUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (1951 to 1956); awarded posthumously
1957The League of Red Cross SocietiesSwitzerlandfor its work on behalf of the Hungarian refugees
1958David HoggettUnited Kingdomfor work with Hungarian refugees in Austria
[[File:Pierre Jacobsen.jpgframeless135x135pxalt=Jacobsen portrait in which he is looking at the camera emotionless, his hair is slicked back to one side]]Pierre JacobsenFranceDeputy Director of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration; awarded posthumously
1959Oskar HelmerAustriaoutstanding work on behalf of refuges...was Austrian Minister of the Interior in 1956 when 180,000 Hungarians took refuge in Austria
1960[[File:Tentoonstelling Europort 1972 geopend in de RAI, Minister Chris Chataway aan stu, Bestanddeelnr 926-0230 (cropped).jpgframeless162x162pxalt=Chataway candidly smiling, wearing a pin-striped jacket, white shirt, dark tie. He is clean shaven and hair styled in side parting]]Christopher Chataway, Colin Jones, Trevor Philpott, Timothy RaisonUnited KingdomFor their roles in creating *World Refugee Year*, raising £9 million
1961[[File:Olav V of Norway.jpgframeless165x165pxalt=King Olav dressed in military regalia, looking to the side with a row of medals pinned to his jacket, adorned with a sash and epaulettes]]King Olav VNorwayKing of Norway
1962Tasman HeyesAustraliaa tribute not only to an able and far-sighted friend of refugees, but also to the generosity of his countrymen
1963The International Council for Voluntary AgenciesSwitzerlandfor support to refugees in Africatitle=Additif au Rapport du Haut Commissaire des Nations Unies pour les Réfugiés, 1963language=frwork=UNHCRurl=https://www.unhcr.org/fr/excom/unhcrannual/4b30a1f0a/additif-rapport-haut-commissaire-nations-unies-refugies-1963.htmlaccess-date=2023-02-27}}
1964May CurwenUnited Kingdomher "whole life had been devoted to the service of those in need"
Francois Preziosi & Jean PlicqueFranceFor their refugee-support work in eastern Congo; awarded posthumously
1965Lucie ChevalleyFrancefor "exceptional service she has rendered to the cause of refugees in France and in a number of other European countries during the past forty-five years"title=Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugeeslanguage=en-uswork=UNHCRurl=https://www.unhcr.org/excom/unhcrannual/3ae68c8c0/report-united-nations-high-commissioner-refugees.htmlaccess-date=2023-03-02}}
Ana Rosa Schlieper de Martínez GuerreroArgentinafor being "associated with many charitable societies and institutions and was a staunch supporter of human rights"; awarded posthumously
Jørgen NørredamDenmarkfor "dedicated service to refugees in Europe, North, Central and East Africa for many years"; awarded posthumously
1967[[File:Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld 1976.jpgframeless169x169pxalt=Prince Bernhard is wearing a dark jacket, with a carnation on it, a red tie, grey/brown shirt. He has a slight smile and is wearing spectacles.]]Prince BernhardNetherlands
1968Bernard ArcensSenegal
Charles H. JordanUSAawarded posthumously
1969Princess Princep ShahNepal
1971Louise HolbornUSA
1972Swana FriðriksdóttirIceland
1974Helmut FrenzGermany
1975James J. NorrisUSA
1976[[File:Hodne Olav.JPGframeless203x203px]]Olav HodneNorway
Marie-Louise BertschingerSwitzerlandawarded posthumously
1977[[File:Logo of the Malaysian Red Crescent.svgframeless135x135pxalt=The Malaysian Red Crescent Society logo, incorporating a red crescent on a white background]]The Malaysian Red Crescent SocietyMalaysiaMRC efforts in aiding thousands of refugees who arrived in Malaysia as a result of the conflict in Indo-China
1978[[File:Seretse Khama during Independence Talks 3x4 portrait.png181x181px]]Seretse KhamaBotswana
1979[[File:Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1975).jpgframeless181x181pxalt=A candid head shot of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing who is looking neutral, wearing a dark jacket, dark tie and a white formal shirt with darker vertical stripes.]]Valéry Giscard d'EstaingFrance
1980Maryluz Schloeter ParedesVenezuela
1981Paul CullenAustralia
1982[[File:Dronning Sonja - Kino 2012 (cropped).JPGframeless187x187pxalt=Crown Princess Sonja outdoors, dressed in dark blue, with a gold necklace.]]Crown Princess SonjaNorway
1983[[File:President Nyerere van Tanzania, koppen, Bestanddeelnr 928-2879 (cropped).jpgframeless198x198pxalt=Candid shot of Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere looking just past the camera, speaking, wearing a formal jacket.]]Mwalimu Julius Kambarage NyerereTanzania
1984Lewis M. Hiller, Jeff Kass, and Gregg TurayUSA
1985[[File:Paulo Evaristo Arns (1982).jpgframeless180x180pxalt=Arms wearing a dark jacket, white shirt, dark tie and thick spectacles.]]Paulo Evaristo ArnsBrazil
1986[[File:Jeanne Sauve 1987 crop (cropped).jpgframeless194x194pxalt=Governor General Jeanne Sauvé dressed formally in a dark jacket.]]The *People of Canada* (accepted by Governor General Jeanne Sauvé)Canada
1987[[File:Ministru prezidents Valdis Dombrovskis oficiālās pusdienās tiekas ar Spānijas karali Huanu Karlosu I un karalieni Sofiju (3506936051) (cropped).jpgframeless178x178pxalt=King Carlos in a grey jacket, light blue shirt, yellow tie, standing indoors in front of the Spanish flag]]Juan Carlos ISpain
1988Syed Munir HusainPakistan
1991[[File:Libertine Appolus Amathila (cropped).jpgframeless177x177pxalt=Libertina Appolus Amathila in a red formal jacket, surrounded by people, looking up from a folded document.]]Libertina Appolus AmathilaNamibia
Paul WeisAustriaawarded posthumously
1992[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-1991-039-11, Richard v. Weizsäcker.jpgframeless187x187pxalt=Formal photograph of Richard von Weizsäcker wearing a jacket and tie with a black background.]]Richard von WeizsäckerGermany
1993[[File:Msf logo.svgframeless135x135pxalt=The logo of Médecins Sans Frontières, red stripes approximately appearing like a person.]]Médecins Sans FrontièresSwitzerland
1995[[File:Madame Graca Machel.jpgframeless203x203pxalt=Graça Machel dressed formally in a black jacket, wearing a pearl necklace, speaking on a podium.]]Graça MachelMozambique
1996[[File:Handicap International Logo 2018.pngframeless135x135pxalt=Handicap International's modern logo, with the words of the new name humanity & inclusion, the logo is a blue hand symbol with the word "Hi" in it.]]Handicap InternationalFrance
1997Joannes KlasUSA
1998[[File:Mustafa Abdülcemil Kırımoğlu.jpgframeless159x159pxalt=Mustafa Dzhemilev dressed in a dark jacket, white shirt and blue tie, listening to a translation headset.]]Mustafa DzhemilevUkraine
2000Jelena SilajdžićBosnia and Herzegovina
[[File:AbunaPaulos.jpgframeless179x179pxalt=Abune Paulos dressed in religious ceremonial garb including mitre that is red with an abundance of gold. He is holding a staff and golden processional cross.]]Abune PaulosEthiopia
[[File:Lao Mong Hay 2.jpgframeless180x180pxalt=Mong Hay standing in a street. He is bald with a long white bear and wearing a collared, short sleeved shirt with a pen and smart phone in the pocket.]]Lao Mong HayCambodia
[[File:Espacio Memoria y DDHH - Miguel Ángel Estrella (cropped).jpgframeless164x164pxalt=Miguel Angel Estrella candidly wearing a huge grin.]]Miguel Angel EstrellaArgentina
[[File:UN Volunteers logo.svgframeless135x135pxalt=The United Nations Volunteers very simple logo]]United Nations volunteersUnited Nations
2001[[File:Luciano Pavarotti 2004.jpgframeless187x187pxalt=Pavarotti in a black bowtie, a white brimmed hat, a colourful scarf and a big smile.]]Luciano PavarottiItaly
2002[[File:Wallenius Wilhelmsen - MV Tampa.JPGframeless135x135pxalt=The MV Tampa vessel, a large container-cargo ship with a red hull in a harbour.]]Arne Rinnan and the crew of the MV TampaNorway
2003Annalena TonelliItaly
2004Memorial Human Rights CentreRussia
2005[[File:Մարգարիտ Բարանկիցե (2).JPGframeless135x135pxalt=Marguerite Barankitse in a colourful skirt and headdress, and a red jacket. She is speaking on a stage as part of a panel discussion.]]Marguerite BarankitseBurundi
2006Akio KanaiJapan
2007Katrine CamilleriMalta
2008Chris Clark & United Nations Mine Action ServiceUnited Kingdom
2009[[File:Ted Kennedy, official photo portrait crop (cropped).jpgframeless135x135pxalt=Kennedy in a dark jacket and white short and dark tie looking at the photographer neutrally.]]Edward KennedyUSA
2010Alixandra FazzinaUnited Kingdom
2011Society for Humanitarian SolidarityYemen
2012[[File:Hawa Aden Mohamed.pngframeless135x135pxalt=Mohamed wearing a dark hijab and spectacles]]Hawa Aden MohamedSomalia
2013[[File:Soeur Angélique Namaika (cropped).jpgframeless191x191pxalt=Angélique Namaika smiling in a village, wearing a green shirt and brown headdress.]]Angélique NamaikaDemocratic Republic of the Congo
2014Butterflies with New Wings Building a FutureColombia
2015[[File:Aqeela Asifi (cropped).pngframeless155x155pxalt=Aqeela Asifi wearing a black head scarf and speaking on stage at a United Nation's event]]Aqeela AsifiAfghanistan
2016[[File:Logo ελληνικό.jpgframeless135x135pxalt=The Hellenic Rescue Team crest, a black eagle in front of a red cross, over white mountains.]]Efi Latsoudi & Konstantinos MitragasGreece
2017Zannah MustaphaNigeria
2018Evan Atar AdahaSouth Sudan
2019[[File:Azizbek Ashurov.jpgframeless135x135pxalt=Azizbek Ashurov in 2022]]Azizbek AshurovKyrgyzstan
2020Mayerlín Vergara PérezColombia
2021Jeel Albena Association for Humanitarian DevelopmentYemen
2022[[File:Besuch Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel im Rathaus Köln-09979 (cropped, ratio 2 to 3).jpgframeless203x203pxalt=Formal portrait of Angela Merkel looking neutral in a red jacket with gold simple necklace]]Angela MerkelGermany
2023Abdullahi MireSomaliaFor his work to expand educational opportunities for young refugees
2024[[File:Fotos produzidas pelo Senado (38412638676).jpg140 pxalt=portrait of Rosita Milesi]]Rosita MilesiBrazil

Lists of regional laureates

YearRegionImageLaureateRationaleCountryRef.
2017AfricaCIYOTAUgandalast=Refugeesfirst=United Nations High Commissioner fortitle=2017 Winnerurl=https://www.unhcr.org/current-winner.htmlaccess-date=2022-08-04website=UNHCRlanguage=en}}
2017AsiaBernard WirthThailand
2017AmericasFriar TomasMexico
2017EuropeHej Främling!Sweden
2017Middle EastIhsan EzedeenSyria
2018Asia[[File:เตือนใจ ดีเทศน์ 2009.jpgframeless178x178pxalt=Tuenjai Deetes shaking hands with a woman at an event, smiling, wearing a pink jacket and scarf.]]Tuenjai DeetesThailand
2018AmericasSamira HarnishUSA
2018EuropeAndreas Hollstein and the town of AltenaGermany
2018Middle EastReclaim ChildhoodJordan
2019AfricaEvariste MfaumeDemocratic Republic of the Congolast=Refugeesfirst=United Nations High Commissioner fortitle=UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winnersurl=https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2019/9/5d7a4f264/unhcr-names-nansen-refugee-award-regional-winners.htmlaccess-date=2022-08-04website=UNHCRlanguage=en}}
2019AsiaAlberto CairoAfghanistanlast=Refugeesfirst=United Nations High Commissioner fortitle=UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winnersurl=https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2019/9/5d7a4f264/unhcr-names-nansen-refugee-award-regional-winners.htmlaccess-date=2022-08-04website=UNHCRlanguage=en}}
2019AmericasBianka RodriguezEl Salvador
2019EuropeHumanitarian CorridorsItaly
2019Middle EastAbeer KhreishaJordan
2020AfricaSabuni Francoise ChikundaDemocratic Republic of the Congolast=Refugeesfirst=United Nations High Commissioner fortitle=UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winnersurl=https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2020/9/5f620aab4/unhcr-names-nansen-refugee-award-regional-winners.htmlaccess-date=2022-08-04website=UNHCRlanguage=en}}
2020AsiaRozma GhafouriAfghanistanlast=Refugeesfirst=United Nations High Commissioner fortitle=UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winnersurl=https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2020/9/5f620aab4/unhcr-names-nansen-refugee-award-regional-winners.htmlaccess-date=2022-08-04website=UNHCRlanguage=en}}
2020EuropeTetiana BarantsovaUkraine
2020Middle East[[File:Rana Dajani.jpgframeless158x158pxalt=Rana Dajani smiling in a pink hijab in a meeting room.]]Rana DajaniJordan
2021AfricaRoukiatou  MaigaBurkina Faso
Diambendi  Madiega
2021AsiaSaleema RehmanAfghanistan
2021AmericasSantiago ÁvilaHonduras
2021EuropeNikola KovačevićSerbia
2022AfricaAhmedou Ag AlboharyMauritaniadate=11 October 2022title=Merkel says Nansen prize honours all those who welcome refugeesurl=https://www.unhcr.org/news/stories/2022/10/6345384a4/merkel-says-nansen-prize-honours-welcome-refugees.htmlaccess-date=2 December 2022}}
2022AsiaNaw Bway KhuMyanmar
2022AmericasVicenta GonzálezNicaragua
2022Middle EastNagham HasanIraq
2023AmericasElizabeth Moreno BarcoColombia
2023Asia-PacificAbdullah Habib, Shahida Win, Sahat Zia, and Salim KhanBangladesh
2023EuropeLena Grochowska and Władysław GrochowskiPoland
2023Middle East & North AfricaAsia Al-MashreqiYemen
2024AfricaMaimouna BaBurkina Fasotitle=Five trailblazing women win UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Awards for their life-changing workurl=https://www.unrefugees.org/news/five-trailblazing-women-win-unhcr-s-nansen-refugee-awards-for-their-life-changing-work/access-date=2024-12-28website=www.unrefugees.orglanguage=en}}
2024Asia-PacificDeepti GurungNepal
2024EuropeJin DavodTurkey
2024Middle East & North AfricaNada FadolEgypt

Notes

References

References

  1. ''[https://www.unhcr.org/uk/nansen-refugee-award.html Nansen Refugee Award]'', [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. UNHCR]]
  2. (1 April 2003). "The Nansen Refugee Award". Refugee Survey Quarterly.
  3. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "About the Award". UNHCR.
  4. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Our Winners". UNHCR.
  5. "UNHCR - Frequently Asked Questions". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  6. "The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award 2021". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  7. (2022-10-10). "Germany's Angela Merkel to receive UN prize".
  8. "Past Laureates".
  9. Cole, Diane. (2018-10-17). "'Other Nobel' Goes To Amazingly Humble Surgeon In South Sudan". NPR.
  10. "List of winners, 1954–2012".
  11. (14 May 1955). "Queen Juliana Awarded Nansen Refugee Medal". The New York Times.
  12. (4 August 1956). "NANSEN MEDAL AWARDED; Honor for Aid to Refugees Is Won by Mrs. D.D. Houghton". The New York Times.
  13. (1 June 1957). "Nansen Medal to Red Cross". The New York Times.
  14. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Nansen Medal Award Ceremony: Presentation Speech by Dr. Auguste R. Lindt, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, on the occasion of the award of the Nansen Medal for 1958 to Mr. David Hoggett". UNHCR.
  15. (14 October 1959). "Austrian Receives Refugee Medal". The New York Times.
  16. (19 January 2014). "Sir Christopher Chataway - obituary". The Telegraph.
  17. (10 October 1962). "Australian Is Honored For Help to Refugees". The New York Times.
  18. "Additif au Rapport du Haut Commissaire des Nations Unies pour les Réfugiés, 1963". UNHCR.
  19. (21 October 1964). "British Woman Gets Nansen Medal". The New York Times.
  20. (19 August 2013). "UNHCR pays tribute to staff killed in the line of duty, marking World Humanitarian Day 2013". UNHCR.
  21. "Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees". UNHCR.
  22. (18 September 2012). "Somali Humanitarian Wins Prestigious Nansen Refugee Award". Voice of America.
  23. (17 September 2013). "Congolese nun named winner of prestigious Nansen Refugee Award". UNHCR.
  24. (12 September 2014). "Nansen Refugee Award: Butterflies take wing to help others". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  25. (16 September 2015). "Aqeela Asifi: A life of teaching Afghan refugee girls". BBC.
  26. (6 September 2016). "The Hellenic Rescue Team". www.hrt.org.gr.
  27. (18 September 2017). "Visionary Nigerian teacher wins UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award". unhcr.org.
  28. "South Sudanese surgeon wins 2018 Nansen Refugee Award".
  29. (25 September 2018). "South Sudanese doctor wins prestigious UN prize for lifetime spent tending to refugees". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].
  30. (October 2019). "'Tenacious' Kyrgyz lawyer and statelessness champion, wins prestigious UNHCR prize". UN News.
  31. (1 October 2020). "Woman who provides a safe haven for child trafficking victims is honoured by the UN". The Telegraph.
  32. (29 September 2021). "Yemeni humanitarian organization wins Nansen Refugee Award". UN News.
  33. (4 October 2022). "Angela Merkel awarded top UN refugee prize, for aid to Syrians fleeing war". UN News.
  34. (2023-12-13). "2023 Nansen Award honours champion for refugee education".
  35. "Brazilian nun who champions refugees wins UNHCR’s Nansen Award".
  36. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "2017 Winner".
  37. "Syrian doctor devotes his life to serve displaced, refugees and vulnerable".
  38. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Rights campaigner fights for Thailand's stateless peoples".
  39. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Samira Harnish, Americas region finalist for the 2018 Nansen Refugee Award".
  40. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "German mayor sets example of how to welcome refugees".
  41. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Nansen Award finalist gives girls in Jordan a sporting chance".
  42. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winners".
  43. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winners".
  44. (2019-09-18). "2019 Nansen Refugee Award for Europe goes to Humanitarian Corridors - Vatican News".
  45. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winners".
  46. Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "UNHCR names Nansen Refugee Award regional winners".
  47. "Meet the Nansen Award winners who stayed and delivered in 2020".
  48. (11 October 2022). "Merkel says Nansen prize honours all those who welcome refugees".
  49. "Colombian rights advocate defies danger to save and improve lives".
  50. "With photographs, words, and deeds, Rohingya refugee storytellers weave hope from despair".
  51. "Polish couple help Ukrainian refugees to help themselves".
  52. Khalaf, Mysa. (2023-11-28). "Yemeni trailblazer supports refugees and Yemenis during conflict".
  53. "Five trailblazing women win UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Awards for their life-changing work".
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