President Ram Baran Yadav will present the first edition of the $ 50,000 award, Nepal´s biggest and first international award, to the Mayor of Hiroshima Dr Tadatoshi Akiba and the Mayor of Nagasaki Tomihisa Taue on May 17 at a special ceremony in Lumbini. [break]
“Former king Birendra had decided that Nepal would initiate the award,” said former U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Gautam, who leads the five-member Gautam Buddha International Peace Award Management and Selection Committee. The idea originated during the first World Buddhist Summit held in December 1998 in Lumbini.
The participants of the summit passed a resolution to establish an international peace award after the world´s best-known messenger of peace Lord Gautam Buddha. But the summit was not clear which country would institute such award.
While former king Birendra took the initiative to establish the award in Nepal, the plan was forgotten after the June 1, 2001 royal palace massacre. The plan was rekindled last year when then Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal was reminded of it during his Lumbini visit.
In order to decide on this years recipients, the committee headed by Gautam sought nominations from hundreds of recognized national and international Buddhist associations; individuals and institutions who have won the Nobel Prize and similar international awards; executive heads and members of government bodies of the United Nations, its special agencies, funds and programs; executive heads of major INGOs and NGOs accredited to the United Nations; and heads of major religious institutions.
Nepal is recognizing Dr Akiba and Taue´s efforts of leading the ´Mayors of Peace´ movement involving more than 4,000 municipalities around the world to advocate nuclear non-proliferation, reduction of military expenditure and disarmament. The award will be given away every five years.
Related story
Let’s live in peace and embrace diversity
