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Judge Weeramantry was selected the winner out of 68 submissions comprising individuals, and national and international organizations. The International Jury of the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education 2006 was chaired by former President of the Republic of Mauritius Mr, Cassam Uteem and also included Mr. Mohammed Arkoun, Emeritus Professor at the Sorbonne University, Paris, Ms Mireille Delmas-Marty, Professor of Law, College de France, Paris, Mr. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Ms Wu Qing, Deputy, Beijing People’s Congress. President of the International Jury Cassam Uteem said Judge Weeramantry was awarded the coveted Prize for his “indefatigable campaign for peace and peace education, promotion of human rights, inter-cultural faith and understanding”. Director General of UNESCO said the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education established in 1981, was awarded to mobilize the conscious of humanity to promote peace. He added that the award this year paid tribute to Judge Weeramantry’s distinguished career as a lawyer, educator, Judge and Vice President of the ICJ. Judge Weeramantry’s contribution to the promotion of peace education, human rights, inter-cultural education, social integration and interfaith understanding was further enhanced through his work as Chairman of the Weeramantry International Centre for Peace Education and Research which he founded in 2001, Addressing the gathering Judge Weeramantry said he accepted the Award with deep humility and that it was “gratifying to know peace education receives such high priority in UNESCO”. He added that if humanity was to see an end to violence, peace education was needed to breakdown the barriers between peoples. The award ceremony was preceded by a round table discussion on the “Culture of Peace Today” where members of the International jury of the UNESCO Prize for Peace Education, Judge Weeramantry, and chairman of the Foundation for Reconciliation of Colombia, which received a Special Mention, took part. The ceremony concluded with a piano performance by internationally renowned Sri Lankan pianist Shani Diluka. A large gathering comprising the diplomatic community, UNESCO staff, special invitees and the Sri Lankan community was present.
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Eminent
Sri Lankan Judge and former Vice President of the International Court of
Justice Christopher Gregory Weeramantry was awarded the UNESCO Prize for
Peace Education 2006 on Thursday 21st September, the
International Day of Peace, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The US$
40,000.00 award was presented to Judge Weeramantry by Director General
of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura.
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