Those of good will must rally so that peace may prevail over factors of war.
Jacques Chirac
Fondation Chirac launch, June 9, 2008

The Fondation Chirac was created to work for Peace by the President Chirac. This year, it will award the first Conflict Prevention Prize.

Mr. Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General for the United Nations and Mrs. Simone Veil, Former French Minister and member of the Académie Française, will award two prizes:

-    the Fondation Chirac Prize to Imam Muhammad Ashafa and to Pastor James Wuye for their efforts in Nigeria;
-    the Special Jury Prize to Dr. Park Jae-Kyu for his work on the Korean peninsula.

[Gallery not found]

Laureates’ biographies

• Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor james Wuye

Originally leaders of opposing religious militias in Nigeria, they then became activists for interreligious dialogue. Together in 1995 they created the Interfaith Mediation Center (IMC) in the State of Kaduna in the northern Nigeria. They have since worked to pacify their country and to spread their method of dialogue to other countries.

The Interfaith Mediation Center, IMC

Founded in 1995 in Kaduna, the Interfaith Mediation Center (IMC) trains teams in conflict resolution throughout Nigeria. They lead seminars and workshops in schools and universities on subjects from democracy to interreligious dialogue. Religion as a factor of rapprochement is presented as part of their method. The IMC works with women, youths, religious leaders, and political heads. Two of the Centre’s many achievements are contributing to appeasing tensions during conflicts in Kaduna in 2002 and in Yelwa (in the Plateau State) in 2004.

Pastor James Wuye and Imam Muhammad Ashafa have received the 2005 Bremen Peace Award.

• Dr. Park Jae-Kyu

Born in the southern province of Kyongsang, in the Republic of Korea, Park Jae-Kyu studied International Relations at City University of New York (CUNY) where he discovered his passion for North Korean Studies. Professor at the Kyungnam University, he founded in 1972 the Institute of Far East Studies (IFES) to promote peace between the two Koreas and to encourage reunification. In 1986, he became President of the University. At the end of 1999, Kim Dae-Jung, President of the Republic of Korea, named him minister of Reunification in order to implement policies on cooperation and reconciliation with North Korea. Since 2003, he has resumed his Presidency of the Kyungnam University. Park Jae-Kyu is the author of works on inter-Korean relations such as: The Politics of North Korea, The Foreign Relations of North Korea, and Nuclear Proliferation in Developing Countries.

• The ceremony will take place in presence of the jury, presided by Jacques Chirac alongside key figures in the struggle for peace.

The Fondation Chirac Prize for conflict prevention is unique. It aims to support and gain awareness for those who invest a part of their lives and resources to prevent conflicts. It endeavours to increase international awareness of these efforts, encourage new callings, and offer financial means to pursue the work.

The Fondation Chirac warmly thanks its partner Mr. Naguib Sawiris, President of Orascom Telecom

Caisse des Dépôts

JCDecaux