COVAX has been named one of two recipients of the 2021 North-South Prize of the Council of Europe, “in recognition of the efforts made by this global initiative to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide, including in low-income countries, and ultimately for striving for a more equitable world when it comes to the protection of people’s lives and public health.” Ms. Zarifa Ghafari, former mayor of Maidan Shahr, capital city of the Wardak Province in Afghanistan, is our co-recipient and was cited for her courage and strong commitment to defending women’s rights in Afghanistan and internationally.
The North-South Prize has been awarded annually since 1995 to two recipients who stand out for their exceptional commitment and outstanding achievements in the protection of the Council of Europe’s core values and the promotion of North-South solidarity. Past recipients have included Kofi Annan , His Highness the Aga Khan, Mary Robinson, Mikhail Gorbachev, and many other distinguished and inspiring individuals and organizations (https://www.coe.int/en/web/north-south-centre/previous-laureates-of-the-north-south-prize#%2232323347%22:[]). The Prize will be presented by the President of the Republic of Portugal at a ceremony in Lisbon in the first half of 2022, with the date to be determined subject to the evolution of the pandemic.
