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The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee (Chairman Hong Il-sik, former president of Korea University), held the 2020 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony commemorating the centenary of the founders at KINTEX on February 5^th (Wed.) at 10:00am.

President Macky Sall (age 57, President of the Republic of Senegal) and Munib A. Younan (age 69, International Honorary President of Religions for Peace) as the 2020 Sunhak Peace Prize Laureates. In addition, a special Founders’ Centenary Award was awarded to Ban Ki-moon (age 76, former UN Secretary-General). The Committee made an official announcement of the laureates at a press conference in Nagoya on October 5^th, 2019.

President Macky Sall was recognized for successfully shortening the presidential term from seven to five years and reviving the economy through transparent policies, thereby spreading mature democracy to neighboring countries on the African continent.

Bishop Munib A. Younan, born as a Palestinian refugee in 1976, was recognized for his 40-years of work to promote harmony among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in the Middle East and in particular to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In addition, Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon led the UN towards achieving a sustainable world with unyielding dedication in the face of unprecedented global challenges and crises, including global economic crisis, climate change, terrorism refugee issues.

In his acceptance speech, President Macky Sall emphasized that peace requires social components of inclusive economic growth that contributes to poverty eradication and reduction of inequality. He reaffirmed his determination to take lead in ending the conflicts on the African continent and achieving social and economic development.

Bishop Munib A. Younan called out to the religious leaders “to raise their voices for peace based on justice and to speak boldly against the waves of hatred and oppression” and said that he “will continue to work for peace based on justice until the last breath of my life.”

Former UN Secretary-General Ban stated that “there are still more than 700 million people going to bed with a hungry stomach” and that receiving this prize gave him “much more added commitment, added motivation that I should do much more because there are still many people who are yearning for peace, prosperity, and for their human rights to be respected and protected.”

Chairman Hong Il-sik stated that the founder “desired to embrace all humanity with the heart of a parent” and that “his leadership of love will serve as a great lesson to the leaders around the world today who, led by national interest, are unable to see the wider and greater world and future,” He firmly emphasized the need to “move beyond the interests of personal and narrower gain toward creating a new culture of peace for the sake of humanity’s future fate” in a world that is becoming more and more divided.

The ceremony was attended by more than 5,000 people, including former and current heads of states and representatives from various governmental, academic, industrial, media, and religious organizations worldwide.

The Sunhak Peace Prize is awarded to individuals and organizations that have greatly contributed to the peace of future generations and human development.