Atatürk International Peace Prize
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1st President of Turkey |
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The Atatürk International Peace Prize (Turkish: Atatürk Uluslararası Barış Ödülü) is an award delivered since 1986 to award people and organizations who have made memorable contributions to world peace in accordance with Kemal Atatürk's quotation, "Peace at Home, Peace in the World".[1] It was created during the presidency of coup leader Kenan Evren,[2] by the Atatürk Association for Culture, Language and History.[3] The award is given to candidates nominated by members of non-governmental organizations, the Senate of Turkish universities and also the secretaries general of the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The president of Turkey as well as the speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey can also present candidates.[1] After the prize was not awarded for 13 years after 2000, in 2013 it was decided to award it only every five years.[4] An award was to be given in 2015,[4][5] but was no ceremony is documented. The next award was planned to be given in 2020, but again was not awarded after all.[1][6] In 2025, Atatürk Association for Culture, Language and History declared the resumption of the award.[6][7]
Laureates
[edit]| Year | Laureate | Position | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 |  |
Joseph Luns | Secretary General of NATO | |
| 1987 |  |
Richard von Weizsäcker | President of Germany | |
| 1989 |  |
Takahito Mikasa | Japanese prince and academic | At the award ceremony, he stated that world peace can only be achieved after poverty is eliminated.[8] |
| 1990 | .png) |
Kenan Evren | President of Turkey | |
| 1992 |  |
Nelson Mandela | President of South Africa | Nelson Mandela declined the prize, citing the persecution of Kurds in Turkey.[9] His decision created an uproar in Turkish society. Following it, the newspaper Hürriyet published an issue with the headline "Ugly African" (Turkish: Çirkin Afrikalı).[10] Mandela changed his mind and accepted the award in 1999.[11] |
| 1995 |  |
Turkish Red Crescent | Turkish NGO | |
| 1996 |  |
UNICEF | Children emergency fund of the United Nations | |
| 1997 |  |
Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina | peacekeeping force of NATO | For their achievements in maintaining peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
| 1999 | .jpg) |
Heydar Aliyev | President of Azerbaijan | Several of his policies were inspired by Atatürk.[12] |
| 2000 |  |
Rauf Denktaş | President of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus | |
| 2025 |  |
António Guterres | Secretary-General of the United Nations | |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "ATATÜRK INTERNATIONAL PEACE PRIZE PRESS RELEASE – AYK". www.ayk.gov.tr. Archived from the original on 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ↑ "Former Turkish President Evren dies". BBC News. 2015-05-09. Archived from the original on 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ↑ Turkey Today. Turkish Embassy. 1989. p. 4.
- 1 2 "'Atatürk Barış Ödülü' 2015'te yeniden verilecek". Sabah (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ↑ "Atatürk International Peace Prize". Archived from the original on 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- 1 2 "Atatürk peace award to revive after 25-year hiatus". Hürriyet Daily News. 2024-07-17. Archived from the original on 2024-07-31. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ↑ "ATATÜRK ULUSLARARASI BARIŞ ÖDÜLÜ" [ATATÜRK INTERNATIONAL PEACE PRIZE]. Atatürk Kültür, Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 2026-06-09. Retrieved 2026-09-28.
- ↑ "Japan's Takahito Mikasa at 100: A Prince Among the Jews". Tablet Magazine. 2015-12-02. Archived from the original on 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
- ↑ "Mandela: Shining light for Turkey's Kurds". Yahoo News Singapore. AFP. 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
- ↑ "Hürriyet'in Mandela çarkı". Sabah (in Turkish). 2013-12-06. Archived from the original on 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
- ↑ "Turkish newspapers criticise of ANC leader Nelson Mandela for refusing to accept Turkey's peace award". South African History Online. Archived from the original on 2013-06-21. Retrieved 2026-10-10.
- ↑ "Atatürk Center in Azerbaijan". Hürriyet Daily News. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-01-03. Retrieved 2020-06-25.