Sister Rosita Milesi has dedicated her life to supporting refugees in Brazil. Brazilian Nun, Women Activists, and the People of Moldova to Receive UN Prize Refugees and Migrants
Five women – a nun, an activist, a businesswoman, a volunteer, and a human rights defender – will receive the Nansen Refugee Award this year. In addition, the UNHCR’s annual human rights award will give an honorary mention to the people of Moldova, who welcomed millions of refugees in the days following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Nansen Award ceremony will take place in Geneva on October 14. The award is given annually for merits in the field of refugee rights. It is named after the Norwegian polar explorer, League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Fridtjof Nansen.
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During the ceremony, honorary mention will be given to all the people of Moldova who, despite their own economic problems, opened their homes, schools, and public spaces to refugees from Ukraine.
Dedicate your life to refugees
The laureate of the prize at the global level in 2024 will be Sister Rosita Milesi, a Brazilian nun, lawyer, social worker and activist who has been defending the rights and dignity of internally displaced people for almost 40 years.
Sister Rosita has personally helped thousands of people gain access to legal services, housing, food, health care, language training, and the labor market in Brazil. She has also played an important role in shaping public policy. For example, her work on Brazil’s 1997 refugee law helped expand the rights of displaced people in line with the 1984 Cartagena Declaration on Refugees, so that the state would do more to protect, integrate, and support people in line with international standards.
“I decided to dedicate my life to migrants and refugees,” said Sister Rosita, 79. “I’m not afraid to act, even if things don’t work out right away. But if I take on something, I will do everything in my power to achieve success,” she added.
Regional laureates
In Africa, the prize will go to Maimouna Bah, an activist from Burkina Faso who has helped over 100 children from displaced families return to school. In addition, thanks to her support, over 400 displaced women have embarked on a path to financial independence.
Syrian refugee Jean Dawod will be the winner in Europe. This social entrepreneur created an online platform that has provided thousands of trauma survivors with free mental health support.
In the Middle East and North Africa, laureate Nada Fadol, a refugee from Sudan, mobilized critical support for hundreds of families fleeing to Egypt for safety.
Deepti Gurung, from the Asia-Pacific region, campaigned to reform Nepal’s citizenship laws after learning that her two daughters were stateless. Her efforts have opened the door for thousands of similarly situated people to obtain documentation.
“Too often, women face heightened risks of discrimination and violence, particularly when they are forced to flee,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “But these five winners show that women are playing a critical role in humanitarian response and solutions.” Grandi praised their contributions at both the community and country levels.