DILI, 16 january 2025 (TATOLI) – The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, chaired by José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission, has proudly announced that Timorese Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão will be awarded the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation’s prestigious Founder’s Award.
The Committee recognized Gusmão’s role as ‘Founder of the g7+: A Global Platform for Conflict-Affected Nations’, noting that ‘under his leadership, the g7+ has become a model for addressing post-conflict recovery and sustainable development, gaining global recognition for its impact on peacebuilding and cooperation’.
“Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation’s prestigious Founder’s Award will be presented to H.E. Xanana Gusmão, a key leader in East Timor’s struggle for independence. As the nation’s first President and current Prime Minister, Gusmão has championed peace and international solidarity through initiatives such as the g7+, fostering collaboration among fragile states to overcome shared challenges,” PR Newswire reported.
The award ceremony will take place on april 11, 2025, at 3 PM KST in Seoul, Korea.
The award is an international recognition ‘for Gusmão contributions to East Timor’s independence, national reconstruction, and international cooperation’.
During the press conference announcing the recipients, Yeon Ah Moon, on behalf of the prize’s founder, Dr Hak Ja Han Moon, pointed out that ‘the Sunhak Peace Prize has tirelessly pursued the pillars of respect for human rights, promotion of reconciliation and preservation of the environment.
“Today, we celebrate individuals who have dedicated their lives to solving global challenges and who will continue to illuminate the universal values of peace for which humanity strives,” Yeon Ah Moon said in a statement.
The Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, José Manuel Barroso, also emphasized that ‘the Sunhak Peace Prize 2025 celebrates visionary leaders who have transformed the ideals of peace into concrete and sustainable solutions, courageously facing global challenges and leading transformative change.’
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão was described as ‘a leader who symbolizes East Timor’s independence and democracy’. “Gusmão became the country’s first president in 2002 and later served as prime minister, demonstrating visionary leadership in rebuilding the nation, restoring the economy and promoting social cohesion.”
On wednesday, the Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, José Manuel Barroso, also proudly announced the laureates to be honored at the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony that takes place on april 11, 2025: Patrick Awuah Jr.(Ghana), Hugh Evans(Australia), and Wanjira Mathai(Kenya).
Each of the four laureates will receive US$200,000, a medal, and a plaque.
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