UN suspends prize offered by Equatorial Guinea pending further consultations

The executive board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today suspended a prize named for the President of Equatorial Guinea, pending the outcome of ongoing consultations among all parties concerned.

The 58 members of the board said the discussions over the UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences will continue “in a spirit of mutual respect” until a consensus is reached.

“I take note of this decision by our Member States, which has been reached by consensus and with respect and dignity towards all concerned parties,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.

The agency’s executive board meets twice a year to oversee the implementation of the programme adopted by its General Conference, and it responsible for the setting up and management of all UNESCO prizes. The board’s 185th session opened on 5 October and will wind up today.

Equatorial Guinea had last month called for prize to go into effect immediately, saying the deferral was announced because the award is the initiative of an African leader.

The prize was created in 2008 with the intention of rewarding the projects and activities of individuals, institutions or other entities for research that improves the quality of human life. It was meant to be an annual accolade, with up to three laureates chosen each year and granted $300,000 between them.

Representatives of some countries, however, accused the Government of Mr. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been in power since 1979, of widespread human rights abuses and said UNESCO should not agree to award such a prize.

In June, UNESCO’s Executive Board endorsed a proposal from Ms. Bokova to defer awarding the prize while consultations continue.