THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Honors
H.E. Michael MOLLER
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Geneva
AIDLR 2019 AWARDS
Detail of the personalities awarded
with the
INTERNATIONAL AWARD of EXCELLENCE AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE
“Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt”
His Excellency Michael MOLLER from Denmark is the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. He began his career in 1979 with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as a Programme Officer and Legal Officer at its headquarters in Geneva. Later in 1982 he was promoted to Second Officer of the UNHCR Regional Office in New York, where he stayed until 1984. During this period, he witnessed war and human suffering first-hand.
Under his leadership, pursuing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals has become a priority for the United Nations Office at Geneva. In his current position of the ‘Ambassador’ of all ambassadors accredited at the United Nations Office in Geneva, H.E. Michael is recognized for his wisdom, prudence and as a balanced person who strongly supports international projects on fostering peace such as global summits on Religion, Peace and Security organized by the AIDLR. Also as the Honorary President of “Art for The World”, an organization associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI) Mr. Møller supports a multitude of projects seeking to create meaningful dialogue on human rights and development through the universal language of art.
In recognition of his leadership & dedication for peace, religious liberty & freedom of conscience for all, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) at the proposal of its Secretary-General Dr Liviu Olteanu and in memory of its founders, Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt, IS PLEASED TO HONOR HIS EXCELLENCY MICHAEL MOLLER with the “INTERNATIONAL AWARD of EXCELLENCE - AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE”.
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Honors
H.E. Sheikh Abdullah BIN BAYYAH
President of the Forum for Promoting Peace, based in the UAE
His Eminence Sheikh Abdullah BIN BAYYAH is currently the President of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies from United Arab Emirates, and a Mauritanian professor of Islamic studies at the King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Mr. Bin Bayyah is also involved in a number of scholarly councils as well as a member of the Dublin-based European Council for Fatwa and Research, a council of Muslim clerics that aims at explaining Islamic law in a balanced way to the realities of European Muslims.
One of his most prominent achievements was the 750 word “Marrakesh Declaration” issued as a conclusion of the three day summit in Marrakesh, which Mr. Bin Bayyah organized in January 2016, entitled: ‘The Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities: Legal Framework and a Call to Action’. A number of approximately 250 Muslim religious leaders, in addition to about 50 non-Muslim religious leaders participated to the conference and signed the Declaration.
In recognition of his leadership & dedication for peace, religious liberty & freedom of conscience for all, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) at the proposal of its Secretary-General Dr Liviu Olteanu and in memory of its founders, Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt, IS PLEASED TO HONOR HIS EMINENCE SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN BAYYAN with the “INTERNATIONAL AWARD of EXCELLENCE - AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE”.
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Honors
Rabbi Michael MELCHIOR
Chairman of the Mosaica Center for Religious Conflict Transformation in the Middle East, Rabbi in Jerusalem
Rabbi Michael MELCHIOR is a descendant of seven generations of rabbis in Denmark who was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1954. His grandfather, Marcus Melchior, helped orchestrate the escape of over 7200 Danish Jews during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. Rabbi Michael Melchior founded The Yachad Council, which promotes dialogue between religious and secular Jews, and he continues to serve as honorary chairman of the Citizens' Accord Forum Between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
Together with Elie Wiesel, Mr. Melchior established the Mosaica Center for Interreligious Cooperation – MERPI (Middle East Religious Peace Initiative) dedicated to preventing the region's religious sensibilities from being exploited during conflicts. Mosaica's second branch is The Center for Conflict Resolution by Agreement, which Rabbi Melchior serves as its Chairman. Today, Rabbi Melchior is seen in the international and Israeli arena as one of the main players in the field of inter-religious diplomacy, which is working to bring about a change in the discourse between the Jewish world and the Muslim world.
In recognition of his leadership & dedication for peace, religious liberty & freedom of conscience for all, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) at the proposal of its Secretary-General and in memory of its founders, Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt, IS PLEASED TO HONOR Rabbi MICHAEL MELCHIOR with the “INTERNATIONAL AWARD of EXCELLENCE - AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE”.
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Honors
Ms. Katarzyna GARDAPKHADZE
First Deputy Director, Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) OSCE, Warsaw, Poland
Ms. Katarzyna GARDAPKHADZE as the First Deputy Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), is responsible for managing its operations, overseeing the preparation, co-ordination and implementation of the activities of the Election, Democratization, Human Rights, Tolerance and Non-Discrimination Programmes and of the Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, as well as formulation of the ODIHR public message. In 2003-2011, Ms. Gardapkhadze served as the director of conflict resolution, human rights and child/social welfare reform programs in the South Caucasus. In 2000 – 2002, she led programs focused on human rights, minorities and inter-ethnic dialogue in Western Balkans.
In recognition of her leadership & dedication for peace, religious liberty & freedom of conscience for all people and for the outstanding mission of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) at the proposal of its Secretary-General Dr. Liviu Olteanu and in memory of its founders Dr.Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt, IS PLEASED TO HONOR Ms. KATARZYNA GARDAPKHADZE and the institution she is representing, with the “INTERNATIONAL AWARD of EXCELLENCE - AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE”.
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Honors
Dr. Kishan MANOCHA
Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion and Belief (OSCE/ODIHR)
Dr. Kishan MANOCHA is Senior Adviser on Freedom of Religion or Belief at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights in Warsaw since May 2015.
He has an extensive experience in religious freedom issues in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as Central and South Asia and he is an excellent advocate, researcher, trainer and consultant to a number of international and non-governmental organisations on religious freedom. He has been actively involved in interfaith dialogue activities at the local and national levels in the UK for over two decades and is currently member of the Advisory Committee to the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.
In recognition of his leadership & dedication for peace, religious liberty & freedom of conscience for all, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) at the proposal of its Secretary-General Dr. Liviu Olteanu and in memory of its founders, Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt, IS PLEASED TO HONOR Dr. KISHAN MANOCHA with the INTERNATIONAL “AWARD of EXCELLENCE - AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE”.
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Honors
Professor Li GUODONG
Chairman of UCT International Culture Development Inc.
Professor Li GUODONG - a very friendly and kind person, is a world-renowned Chinese calligrapher and dean of the International Institute of Calligraphy and Paintings of Thailand and has been practicing Chinese ink calligraphy for more than 60 years.
As a chairman at UCT International Culture Development Inc, an organization commited to promote international arts and culture through the United Nations, professor Guodong has dedicated his skills and artworks to support the needs of the less fortunate women and children and to promote peace, harmony and friendship among peoples of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Prof. Li Guodong received the Humanitarian Award from the Orphans International Worldwide organization (OIWW) in 2011.
In recognition of his leadership & dedication for peace, fostering United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and international harmony and dialogue by arts among all people and nations, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR) at the proposal of its Secretary-General Dr. Liviu Olteanu and in memory of its founders, Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt, IS PLEASED TO HONOR Profesor LI GUODONG with the “INTERNATIONAL AWARD of EXCELLENCE - AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE”.
THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Honors
Dr. Ganoune DIOP
Secretary General International of the Religious Liberty Association
Dr. Ganoune DIOP is the Director of Public Affairs & Religious Liberty for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists World Headquarters, and Secretary General of the International Religious Liberty Association, as well as Secretary of the Conference of Secretaries of Christian World Communions. He is executive editor of Religious Freedom World Report and executive editor of Fides et Libertas.
Professor Diop extensively works as an adviser and international expert fostering mutual understanding between Christian faith traditions and other world religions and philosophies. He regularly trains leaders in capacity building in reference to peace, justice, and human rights: the pillars of the United Nations and specially has a special expertise on freedom of religion or belief. He was granted a doctorate Honoris Causa for his work in helping promote a culture of human rights grounded on human dignity.
In recognition of his leadership & dedication for peace, religious liberty & freedom of conscience for all, the International Association for the Defense of Religious Liberty (AIDLR), at the proposal of its Secretary-General Dr. Liviu Olteanu and in memory of its founders, Dr. Jean Nussbaum & Eleanor Roosevelt, IS PLEASED TO HONOR Dr. GaANOUNE DIOP with the “INTERNATIONAL AWARD of EXCELLENCE - AMBASSADOR FOR LIBERTY AND PEACE”.