Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is one of India’s most prestigious awards, and the 2025 announcement has highlighted the lifelong commitment of Graça Machel to human welfare.

Why Graça Machel?

Graça Machel, a Mozambican stateswoman and humanitarian, was chosen by an international jury chaired by former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon.

• Pioneering Education: As Mozambique’s first Minister of Education (1975), she increased primary and secondary school participation from 40% to over 90% for males and 75% for females.
• Protection of Children: In 1996, she authored a landmark UN report, “The Impact of Armed Conflict on Children,” which changed how the world protects children in war zones.
• Economic Empowerment: She founded the Graça Machel Trust in 2010 to promote women’s leadership, food security, and good governance across Africa.
• Global Leadership: She is a founding member of The Elders (an independent group of global leaders) and co-founded the NGO Girls Not Brides.
• Unique Historical Fact: She is the only woman in history to have been the First Lady of two different nations (Mozambique and South Africa).

About the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize:

Established in 1986, the prize is awarded annually by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust to recognize exceptional contributions to global peace and development.

Recent Past Recipients

• 2024: Michelle Bachelet (Former President of Chile and UN Human Rights Chief).
• 2023: Daniel Barenboim (Pianist) and Ali Abu Awwad (Palestinian peace activist).
• 2022: Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Trained Nurses Association of India (for COVID-19 service).
• 2021: Pratham (NGO focused on education).