World Peace Prize
Encyclopedia
Mission
World Peace Prize is an initiative to promote world peace and inter-religious understanding. The Prize is awarded periodically to individuals who have contributed to the causes of world peace by preventing regional conflicts or world war; by settling the disputes of political, diplomatic and economic matters; by developing new inventions to minimize threats and confusions within mankind. The World Peace Prize Awarding Council operates according to the core spirit of advancing peace and justice and inter-religious collaborations.History
The World Peace Prize is a prestigious award presented by the World Peace Corps Mission, an international Evangelical missionary organization. Since its establishment in 1989, the World Peace Prize has been awarded to individuals contributing to the causes of world peace by preventing regional conflicts or world war; by settling the disputes of political, diplomatic and economic matters; by developing new inventions to minimize threats and confusions within mankind.Founders
The World Peace Prize was established in 1989 by late Hon. Robert L. Leggett and Dr. Han Min Su, and operates under the principles of inter-religious collaboration, and in the spirit of altruism and world peace.The late Hon. Robert Leggett, was a nine-term United States congressman; a legislator of great fairness, impartiality, and integrity. While in Congress, he served on the House Armed Services Committee and Budget Committee, and was Chairman of the Panama Canal Zone House Merchant Marine and Fishery Committee and co-chairman of the National Security Task Force.
While visiting Korea in 1982, he met Korean clergyman and Christian leader Dr. Han Min Su. The foundation of his entire life has been to preach Christianity and morality. He has spared no efforts in advancing world peace and furthering friendship and love among humankind. Wherever he goes, he is well respected within the international community as a minster of high moral character, a kind-hearted leader promoting inter-religious collaboration and world peace.
The two gentlemen struck an immediate friendship. In later years, Congressman Leggett continued to be inspired by the faithful Christians in Korea. While witnessing the success of the Peace Corps initiated by U.S. President John F. Kennedy, the two gentleman co-founded the World Peace Corp Mission as a civilian organization emulating the spirit of the United States Peace Corps Volunteer Service.
In 1989, as an initiative to promote world peace and inter-religious understanding, they established the World Peace Prize. Over the past 20 years, World Peace Prize has become a prestigious prize well recognized internationally.
Awards
Top Honor Prize is the highest recognition presented by the World Peace Prize Awarding Council. Historically, it has been presented to eminent world leaders who are vanguards and visionaries, bringing people from disparate backgrounds together, working towards the common goal of peace. Historically, award ceremonies are held in the recipient's home country. In 2011, the award celebration took place in the Gold Room of the United States Capitol, Washington D.C., honoring- H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III, world leader of Buddhism
- Hon. Benjamin GilmanBenjamin A. GilmanBenjamin Arthur "Ben" Gilman is a former Republican United States Representative from New York. Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, Gilman graduated from Middletown High School in Middletown, New York in 1941 and received a B.S. from the Wharton School Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in...
, former Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, United States Congress
Top Honor Prize Awardees
- President Ronald Reagan of the United States
- Hon. Mahatma Gandhi, India
- H.E. Yitzhak Rabin, former Prime Minister of Israel
- H.E. Fidel Valdez Ramos, former President of the Philippines'
- Gen. Yakubu Gowan, former President of the Republic of Nigeria
- H.E. Syngman Rhee, former (first) President of South Korea
- H.E. Abdurrahman Wahid, former President of Indonesia
- H.E.Punsalmaagiin Ochirbat, former President of Mongolia
- H.E. Hosni Mubarak, former President of Egypt
- President Kuniwo Nakamura, former President of Palau
- H.E. Meles Zenawi, former Prime Minster of the Republic of Ethiopia