The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced the opening of nominations for the 2017 Nansen Refugee Award.
The award is bestowed on a person or group for outstanding work on behalf of the forcibly displaced, and aims to showcase the values of perseverance and conviction in the face of adversity. It is named after Fridtjof Nansen, the first High Commissioner for Refugees for the League of Nations (1920 – 1930), who also excelled in Norway as a scientist, polar explorer, diplomat and humanitarian.
Since Eleanor Roosevelt became the first winner in 1954, more than 60 individuals, groups and organisations have been recognised for outstanding and dedicated work on behalf of displaced people.
Nominations can be made by UNHCR staff members on behalf of an outstanding individual or organisation that has made an enormous personal sacrifice to assist refugees, internally displaced and stateless people.
The 2016 joint winners were Efi Latsoudi of Pikpa village on the Greek island of Lesvos, and Konstantinos Mitrigas on behalf of the Hellenic Rescue Team. They worked tirelessly to help refugees arriving in Greece and their efforts reflect the spirit of volunteerism that characterised the response to the refugee and migrant emergency in Europe in 2015.
