The Commonwealth Peace Prize celebrates individuals and organizations within the Commonwealth who have made exceptional contributions to peacebuilding and conflict resolution. It aims to highlight the importance of fostering harmony, understanding, and collaboration in diverse communities while addressing the root causes of conflict. The prize aligns with the Commonwealth’s core values of democracy, human rights, and sustainable development.
The Commonwealth Peace Prize will be awarded to a distinguished peace-builder with a strong track record of faith-based engagement in conflict resolution, promotion of social cohesion, and sustainable peace. The prize organized and delivered by the Khalili Foundation in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, is a part of the Commonwealth Faith Festival and Faith in the Commonwealth Initiative.
Awarded annually, the Commonwealth Peace Prize recognizes innovative approaches to resolving conflicts, promoting reconciliation, and advancing social cohesion. Winners may include grassroots activists, educators, policymakers, or organizations whose efforts have significantly impacted their communities or regions. The prize serves to inspire others by showcasing success stories of peace initiatives and encouraging broader engagement in peacebuilding efforts.
By celebrating these achievements, the prize underscores the Commonwealth’s commitment to fostering a culture of peace across its 56 member states. It also brings attention to the critical need for collaborative efforts to tackle global challenges such as inequality, extremism, and climate-related displacement. Through initiatives like this, the Commonwealth reinforces the belief that peace is a shared responsibility and a foundation for sustainable progress.
The prize aims to:
- build capacity and amplify awareness about impactful youth-led and intergenerational partnerships that promote peace across the diverse geographical, cultural, religious and ethnic groups in the Commonwealth
- promote dialogue and innovative peacebuilding methods to support greater harmony across the Commonwealth
Eligibility criteria For The Commonwealth Peace Prize
Institutions are not eligible to receive the Prize.
The winner of the Prize will be a living, distinguished and long-serving individual/ Commonwealth citizen over the age of 30 who:
- is considered a respected and trusted broker between conflicting parties, with a strong and lengthy track record of successful peacebuilding in Commonwealth societies;
- has built sustainable mechanisms, institutions or processes for dialogue which have, based on objective evaluation, contributed to a definitive end to conflict, lasting peace, social cohesion, or other observed positive change;
- has, in the pursuit of those efforts, consistently used their significant influence to promote the Commonwealth values of tolerance, respect, understanding, moderation, celebration of cultural, racial, ethnic diversity and religious freedom; and
- has used principles of religious faith and/or faith in the Commonwealth Charter to create positive and sustainable peace towards the aim of free and democratic societies and inclusive development.
Nomination requirements
- Nominations open on International Peace Day, 21 September 2024, and close on 17 January 2025
- Only member governments, through their High Commissions in London or non-resident High Commissioners or accredited officials to the Commonwealth, and
- Heads of Commonwealth Accredited Organisations are eligible to submit official nominations.
- Nominations must be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretariat by email to PeacePrize@commonwealth.int and be received by 23:59 GMT on 17 January 2025.
- Nominations must be submitted as an official letter of recommendation, including an impact biography of the candidate, which outlines how the candidate meets all the specified criteria.
Selection Process:
- A Commonwealth Peace Prize Committee under the banner of the Commonwealth Faith Festival project will prepare the first shortlist for consideration by a panel of judges.
- A high-level panel of judges will select a winner in February 2025
- The Secretary-General will announce the winner during Commonwealth Week in 2025 at a special ceremony.
- The winner will be presented with a citation and a letter of award outlining a financial award of £50,000 to be used to continue their work.
- The final shortlist of candidates will not be published. However, candidates from the shortlist may be invited to participate in Commonwealth Faith Festival activities.
Application Deadline: 17 January 2025.
