Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who shared Nobel Peace prize with two other women last year, has been chosen for this year’s Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for being an “inspiration” to women and ensuring return of peace and democracy in her country, it was announced on Monday.
She was selected for the award, set up by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, by an international jury chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Indira Gandhi Prize is awarded to her for serving as an “example and inspiration” to women in Africa and beyond and for ensuring
the return of peace, democracy, development, security and order in Liberia.
The jury also commended her strong interest in the consolidation and improvement of Liberia’s relations with India, a statement said. Starting from a humble background, Sirleaf has risen to the Presidency becoming the first elected female head of state of the African continent.
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