Indira Gandhi Prize for Mary Robinson

New Delhi, Nov. 19. President K R Narayanan today conferred the prestigious Indira Gandhi Award for Peace, Disarmament and Development on Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR), in recognition of her tireless campaign in espousing the cause of the poor, the weak and women and children.

The award, which includes a cheque, a plaque and a certificate, was given away in the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Vice- President Krishan Kant, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

In his speech, the President said Mary Robinson had done much for the cause of peace and development in this distracted world. She eloquently advocated the need and the urgency for promotion of economic, social and cultural rights, and of the right to development, he added.

He said Mary Robinson had adopted the values of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by giving importance to social and economic rights. This was evident from the policies she pursued after becoming UNHCR, he noted.

- UNI

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