The 2019 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony
Congratulatory Address by H.E. Seynab Abdi Moallim, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Somalia
Dear Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am honored to give congratulatory remarks on this stage of prestigious Sunhak Peace Prize. The Award Theme of the 2019 Sunhak Peace Prize, “Human Rights and Human Development in Africa,” really touches my heart sincerely, because I am a citizen of the 21st century and because I am an African.
A prize cannot be awarded to everyone. A prize is something that is awarded to an individual with great devotion and one who has God-given ability. Therefore, I would like to send great applause and appreciation to the Laureates of the 2019 Sunhak Peace Prize, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Ms. Waris Dirie, who have devoted their lives in building better world for all.
Waris Dirie is a human rights activist who have been fighting endlessly to eradicate female genital mutilation around the world. Especially, she has contributed greatly to raising worldwide awareness of female genital mutilation issue, after when she was appointed as the UN special ambassador for the elimination of female genital mutilation in 1997.
After when she published a book called Desert Flower, the book became world’s best-selling book and it was adopted into a movie. The movie helped to spread the tragic facts about female genital mutilation and helped people to change their perspectives about female genital mutilation.
For over thousands of years, the cruel act has been practiced in many countries. And fighting against this deep-rooted tradition was surely unimaginably painful path to take with many threats against Waris Dirie. However, Waris Dirie devoted her life to improve lives of girls and women, at the risk of her life. In the end, she has improved millions of girls and women’s human rights by saving many of them from female genital mutilation. Now, the number of victims of Female genital mutilation is decreasing greatly, through her tireless efforts.
The two nominees of the Sunhak Peace Prize for 2019, are the great man and woman of this century, who have taken the path which no one else has chosen to take, for the happiness of humanity and for the betterment of our future. And, they have endured the hardships and have been making tremendous achievements through their tireless efforts. They emphasize on the value of loving humanity to pave a bright future for everyone.
Again, I would like to give sincere congratulations to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Ms. Waris Dirie.
Lastly I would like to send sincere thanks and congratulations to the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation on awarding individuals and organizations with futuristic perspective in gathering hopes and lights to building bright future for humanity. I think awarding of a prize is the greatest and glorious way to uplift the humanistic spirit. Also, it’s not only the reward given to the nominee, but it’s an opportunity for everyone to celebrate, congratulate and to learn the nominee’s marvelous achievements in building world of peace altogether.
Thank you very much.
February 9, 2019.
