Soka Global Citizen Award

"Without peace development is impossible, and without development, peace is not achievable, but without women, neither peace nor development is possible.”

Ambassador Anwarul K. Choudhury

Soka Global Citizen Award

Soka University of America is proud to announce Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury as the recipient of the inaugural Soka Global Citizen Award, for his life’s work and achievements for peace, women’s rights and equality, and for the cause of the world’s poorest and most disadvantaged nations.

SUA President Ed Feasel noted that Ambassador Chowdhury has served as the under-secretary-general and high representative for least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, and small island developing states, president of the UN Security Council, president of UNICEF, permanent representative to the UN and senior special advisor to the UN General Assembly president.

Ambassador Chowdhury’s life work has especially contributed to the practice of the culture of peace and nonviolence. Soon after assuming his position as Bangladesh ambassador to the UN, he initiated a proposal in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the United Nations General Assembly develop a specific agenda on the culture of peace. He chaired the negotiations among the member states of UN that culminated in the adoption of the 1999 Landmark Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. He also initiated the proclamation of the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the Children of the World (2001-2010).” Both were adopted by the UN General Assembly.

Ambassador Chowdhury has been a strong and widely respected advocate for the equality of women and women’s rights throughout his career. During his tenure as president of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Chowdhury led the initiative in March 2000 that brought about the political and conceptual breakthrough leading to the adoption of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in which the council recognized for the fi rst time the role and contribution of women in the area of peace and security as well as the equality of their participation at all decision-making levels.

“Without peace, development is impossible, and without development, peace is not achievable,” Chowdhury said, “but without women, neither peace nor development is possible.

Ambassador Chowdhury accepted his award during a special virtual celebration of Soka University’s 20th anniversary on May 2.

“I am proud to hold up Ambassador Chowdhury as a role model for our students,” Dr. Feasel said. “He is truly an inspiration for us all. As Soka University celebrates its 20th anniversary, we are honored that our new Soka Global Citizen Award is shining a spotlight on an individual who is using their wisdom, courage, and compassion to lift up others and improve our world.”