Guatemalan activist, Mexican politician conferred Gandhi-Mandela Award

PTI, Jul 21, 2024, 8:06 AM IST

Image credit: @IndEmbMexico / X

New Delhi: Guatemalan activist Rigoberta Menchu Tum and Mexican politician and businessman Victor Gonzalez Torres have been conferred with the Gandhi-Mandela Award for their significant contribution to human rights and healthcare respectively.

Menchu’s tireless advocacy for the rights of the indigenous population and ethno-cultural reconciliation has earned her numerous international accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and the Princess of Asturias Award in 1998.

Her work continues to inspire and lead the fight for indigenous rights globally, the Gandhi-Mandela Foundation said in a statement here.

The award was given at a function on Friday in Mexico.

Nobel peace prize laureate & Guatemalan Human rights activist, Ms. Rigoberta Menchú Tum and Mexican politician & businessman, Mr. Victor Gonzalez Torres were awarded with Gandhi Mandela award 2020.

The award is bestowed for promoting peace & harmony and the values of Mahatma… pic.twitter.com/C3dOQrMznM

— India in México (@IndEmbMexico) July 20, 2024

Chaired by Swami Avdheshanand Giri, the Gandhi Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organisation formed to promote the values of non-violence espoused by Mahatma Gandhi and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.

The award comprises a medal and a certificate signed by a jury consisting of five former Chief Justices and former Supreme Court judges from India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.