The International Simón Bolívar Prize serves to recognise activities of outstanding merit that, in accordance with the ideals of Latin American independence hero Simón Bolívar, "contribute to the freedom, independence and dignity of peoples and to the strengthening of a new international economic, social and cultural order". ^[1]

The Prize is awarded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) every second year, on 24 July (the anniversary of Bolívar's birth). In addition to the intrinsic distinction bestowed on recipients, the award comes with a sum of money (currently USD $25,000), determined and donated by the government of Venezuela.

Prize winners are selected by the unanimous decision a jury of seven "eminent persons" – five representing the regions of the world, one chosen by the Venezuelan authorities, and a representative of the director-general – from a list of candidates submitted by UNESCO member states and associate members. Both individuals and institutions are eligible as candidates.

Laureates

The following persons and organisations have been recognised by the International Simón Bolívar Prize since the scheme's inception in 1983: ^[2]

Year	Recipient	Country
1983	Juan Carlos I of Spain Nelson Mandela	Spain   South Africa
1985	Contadora Group	Colombia   Mexico   Panama   Venezuela
1988	Vicariate of Solidarity	Chile
1990	Václav Havel	Czechoslovakia
1992	Aung San Suu Kyi Julius Nyerere	Burma   Tanzania
1996	Muhammad Yunus	Bangladesh
1998	Mário Soares Milad Hanna	Portugal   Egypt
2000	Samuel Ruiz García Julio Sanguinetti	Mexico   Uruguay
2004	Nadia Al-Jurdi Nouaihed Casa de las Américas	Lebanon   Cuba

References