On International Day of Peace, World Vision honors winner of 2nd annual Peace Prize

Pakistani woman brings peaceful change through human rights activism

Monrovia, California, September 21, 2010—World Vision International is proud to announce the recipients of its second annual Peace Prize as a part of the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2010. The World Vision International Peace Prize includes two awards, the Peacemaking Award which honors an individual, and the Peacebuilding Award which congratulates an organization. The 2010 Peacemaking Award recipient is Rubina Feroze Bhatti of Pakistan and this year’s Peacebuilding Award goes to WI’AM of the Palestinian Territories.

Aligning with World Vision’s core values as a Christian, community-based and child-focused organization, the Peace Prize brings into the limelight individuals and organizations that have made unique and critical contributions toward the promotion of peace, recognizing and honoring their commitments to building durable peace and reconciliation in their communities and beyond.

The Peacemaking Award recipient, Rubina Feroze Bhatti of Pakistan, is an individual who has proven herself as a mobilizer, working extensively to bring peaceful change through human rights activism, advocacy and policy engagement. World Vision recognizes Rubina for her holistic approach to peace, her ability to identify culturally relevant ways to bridge gaps between members of society and highlight opportunities for women and youth to bring durable peace to communities through development, education and advocacy. Rubina’s creativity, persistence and willingness to take risks for peace are engrained in her ability to influence others with hope.

The Peacebuilding Award recipient, WI’AM of the Palestinian Territories, is an organization built on strong context and conflict analysis and integration of peacebuilding with development and advocacy programs. WI’AM has demonstrated its ability to draw from indigenous conflict resolution traditions in order to create a culture of peace within the community. WI’AM provides tangible opportunities for mobilizing and empowering children, youth and women through human rights dialogue, creative programming, cultural exchanges and vocational training. WI’AM’s methodology demonstrates a grassroots approach and their ability to partner with others widens their scope of impact for peace.

The Peace Prize is awarded in honor and memory of Steve Williams, World Vision United Kingdom Senior Policy Advisor on Peace and Conflict, who died unexpectedly in December 2007. Steve’s experience in peacebuilding, conflict analysis, and policy analysis set him apart as a leader, not only within World Vision but within the peace community around the world. His commitment to integrate values of peace and reconciliation in both his work and personal life distinguished him.

World Vision formally congratulates each distinguished recipient. Each of the recipients will be formally awarded with a trophy and monetary award during a ceremony in their respective countries on the International Day of Peace.

With the International Day of Peace, World Vision is also excited to announce the launch of the 2011 Peace Prize. World Vision is now accepting nominations from around the world with a deadline of submission of March 1, 2011.

For more information on this year’s recipients, the lists of finalists, members of the International Awards Committee, and nomination forms and deadlines for 2011, please visit www.wvi.org/peaceprize.


World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, visit www.worldvision.org/press.