GANDHI-KING AWARD FOR NONVIOLENCE 

PRESENTED BY THE WORLD MOVEMENT FOR NONVIOLENCE, THE GANDHI-KING AWARD IS THE LEADING INTERNATIONAL HONOR FOR PROMOTING THE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF NONVIOLENCE IN DAILY LIFE. 

IN HONOR OF MAHATMA GANDHI AND DR. KING'S CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD PEACE AND JUSTICE, THE GANDHI-KING AWARD FOR NONVIOLENCE HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO: 

KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS (1999); 

NELSON MANDELA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF SOUTH AFRICA (2000); 

JANE GOODALL, WORLD-RENOWNED SCIENTIST AND WRITER (2001); 

MATA AMRITANANDAMAYUI, INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SPIRITUAL TEACHER (2002). 
 

The World Movement for Nonviolence was founded by Bawa Jain in 1998 to raise awareness of the critical importance of practicing peacefulness in today's world. Its goal is to prevent violence in every form by promoting the use of diplomatic means for resolving conflict. Bawa Jain received an inspired dictation from his spiritual father, His Holiness Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj, one of this century's international peace leaders. 

The World Movement for Nonviolence has forged partnerships and alliances with individuals and organizations in over 140 cities across America and more than 60 countries with the belief that a united effort will strengthen the commitment toward a more peaceful world. 

To educate young people on the principles of nonviolence, The World Movement for Nonviolence has developed programs, workshops, retreats, conferences, and task forces for youth that deal with conflict resolution and prevention. The focus is to empower youth with the spirit of nonviolence in overcoming adversity.  

The World Movement for Nonviolence also hosts special programs at the United Nations where religious, political, civic, academic, and youth leaders speak on practical applications of nonviolence. On 4, April, 2000, the National Day of Reconciliation was commemorated as a day for healing the divisive elements of society. 
 

"There is no halfway truth and nonviolence on the one hand and untruth and violence on the other. We may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought, word and deed. But we must keep nonviolence as our goal and make steady progress towards it. The attainment of freedom, whether for a person, a nation or the world must be in exact proportion to the attainment of nonviolence by each."
 

Mahatma Gandhi

"The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage that they didn't know they had. Finally, it reaches the opponent and so stirs his conscience that reconciliation becomes a reality." 
 

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.