United Nations Invites Malaysians To Nominate Outstanding Individuals And Organizations For Award

Kuala Lumpur, 13 September 2011 – The United Nations office in Malaysia is inviting the Malaysian public to nominate their choice candidates for the United Nations Person / Organization of the Year Award 2011 for the first time since its inception in 1998.

The Award, initiated under the UN Resident Coordinator System, has recognized the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations in the country on issues of human rights, social justice and equality. The award will be given out during the UN anniversary celebration that falls annually on 24th October.

‘Human Rights and Development’ is the theme for this year and is aimed at drawing attention to human rights efforts in Malaysia that help to promote and protect the rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized to overcome poverty, exclusion and discrimination. The theme of ‘Human Rights and Development’ flows from the 2011 work plan of the UN Country Team’s Human Rights and Development Theme Group.

Mr. Kamal Malhotra, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Malaysia said, “The UN person of the year award gives recognition to the valuable contributions made by an individual or organization for outstanding contributions to the promotion and protection of human rights embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other United Nations human rights conventions and instruments.

It is also to encourage public, private sector and civil society participation in the promotion and protection of human rights and development issues in Malaysia and to identify and promote the best practices for replication and upscaling.”

A nominee for the award may be an individual who is a Malaysian citizen or an organization registered in Malaysia. However, an individual or organization cannot nominate themselves and nominations must be made by a third party. Nominees who nominate themselves for the Award will be disqualified.

Mr. Malhotra added, “The nominees should be working in areas that promote equal opportunity and enhance the rights of vulnerable and marginalized populations such as women, children, indigenous peoples, migrants and refugees, and people with disabilities. They should have a demonstrated commitment to establishing more common ground between human rights and the inclusive and equitable growth agenda, especially focused on the situation of persons at risk of statelessness, promoting the rights of indigenous peoples, support for anti-trafficking efforts in Malaysia, or the promotion of the right to work, development and self-determination. Initiatives may have been at community, local or national levels.

Nominations will be judged based on clear and transparent criteria. Contributions by the nominee should have been made during the past ten years.”

Submissions by the public must include a rationale while outlining salient points as to why the nominee should be considered as a potential recipient of the Award. The rationale statement should be no longer than two A-4 size pages. Nominations without a rationale will not be considered by the Selection Committee.

If the nomination is for an individual, special recognition will be given to efforts that are self-initiated and sustained compared to those which have been directed by an NGO, Private Sector Corporation or the Government. Priority will be given to achievements in the last ten years.

“The 2011 winner will join an illustrious list of previous recipients such as Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir in 2010, the Economic Planning Unit in 2007, the late Y. Bhg Tan Sri Khir Johari in 2004, Ward 54 hospital Sungai Buloh in 2002 as well as inaugural recipients Tan Sri Razali Ismail, Dato Jaafar Kamin and the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) organisation in 1998.” concluded Mr. Malhotra.

The Award will only be presented to a nominee for work that meets the above stated criteria and is considered by the Selection Committee as outstanding.  No Award will be presented if no nomination meets a minimum threshold.

The 2011 Selection Committee will be chaired by Mr.  Kamal Malhotra UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia and UNDP Representative for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam and will include Mr. Hans Olsen, UNICEF Representative for Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam and Mr. Alan Vernon, UNHCR Representative for Malaysia. The Internal Review Committee will comprise members of the UN Country Team’s Communications Group.

Official entry forms can be downloaded from http://www.un.org.my. The deadline for nominations is 5.00 pm, September 30, 2011. Nominations should be addressed to Dr. Lin Mui Kiang, UN Malaysia Award 2011, UN Malaysia, Wisma UN, Block C, 3rd Floor, Kompleks Pejabat Damansara, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia or faxed to 603-2095 2870.

Recipients of the UN Malaysia Person / Organisation of the Year Award

Year

Recipient

Achievements

1998

Tan Sri Razali Ismail

Outstanding and dedicated service to the ideals and aspirations of the United Nations

Dato Jaafar Kamin

Meritorious service to the development of Radio and Television broadcasting in Malaysia

SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect)

The organizations role in protecting the lives of children in Malaysia

1999

FFPAM (Federation of Family Planning Association Malaysia)

Pioneering work in family planning and work in parallel with the Government as the leading NGO in sexual and reproductive health

2000

The Malaysian Armed Forces and the Royal Malaysian Police

Their valiant and courageous peacekeeping services to the ideals and inspirations of the United Nations

2001

Malaysian Federation of the Deaf

In recognition of achievements in bridging the digital divide amongst deaf people through e-pek@k for enhanced human development and poverty eradication

2002

Ward 54 hospital Sungai Buloh

For outstanding work in the area of care and treatment of people living with HIV / AIDs in Malaysia

2003

Chris Ng

Outstanding and creative work in empowering young Malaysians to make informed decisions in HIV / AIDs prevention through youth to youth theatre

2004

Y. Bhg Tan Sri Khir Johari

For his lifetime contribution in supporting Malaysia’s progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals

2005

Datuk Dr. Raj Abdul Karim

Outstanding contribution to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Malaysia

2007

Economic Planning Unit

Outstanding contribution to Malaysia’s development over the past 50 years

2010

Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir

Achievements in gender and women’s empowerment and in HIV / AIDs work both in Malaysia and internationally.

*No awards were given in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

About United Nations Day:

24 October has been celebrated annually, since 1948, to mark the founding of the UN in 1945 on the principles of justice, peace, equality and human rights as enshrined in its Charter.

In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco, USA, at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up and agree the United Nations Charter. The Organization officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and a majority of others present.

The purposes of the United Nations, as set forth in its Charter, are to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems; to promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in attaining these ends.

For further information, please contact:

Ahmad Hafiz Osman, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Mobile: (012) 302 1234                       Email: [email protected]

To read more about the work of UNDP, please visit www.undp.org.my

Indra Kumari Nadchatram, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Mobile: (012) 2070 138                       Email:  [email protected]

To read more about the work of UNICEF, please visit  www.unicef.org/malaysia

Yante Ismail, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Mobile: (013) 3526286                        Email: [email protected]

To read more about the work of UNHCR, please visit www.unhcr.org.my