Edhi wins top UN prize for non-violence

[Naveed Yaseen]

UNITED NATIONS: Abdul Sattar Edhi and a Belgian human rights defender on Tuesday were awarded a prestigious United Nations prize for their work in promoting tolerance and non-violence. Edhi, the philanthropist, and Franois Houtart of Belgium were awarded the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)-Madanjeet Singh Prize on the unanimous recommendation of an international jury to UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, according to an announcement in Paris. They will share the $100,000 prize money and receive the award on November 16, the International Day for Tolerance. Dedicated to advancing tolerance in the arts, education, culture, science and communications, the prize was created in 1995 on the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mahatama Gandhi, with the help of Indian writer and diplomat Madanjeet Singh, who is also a UNESCO Goodwill ambassador. It is awarded every two years to individuals or institutions for outstanding contributions towards its goals. Edhi, through his Edhi Foundation, received the accolade for life-long efforts to improve the conditions of the poor in Pakistan and South Asia and promote human dignity and human rights, a UN press release said. app

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