The 2010 North-South Prize winners  -Louise Arbour (Canada) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil)  – were awarded today, March 29, in Lisbon, at the Portuguese Parliament, at a ceremony presided by President Anibal Cavaco Silva among many other personalities.

Louise Arbour was born on 10 February 1947 in Montreal, Quebec. She began her academic career in 1974. In 1995, She has received honorary doctorates from some thirty Universities and numerous medals and awards and is a member of many distinguished professional societies and organizations. Louise Arbour has served as President & CEO of the International Crisis Group since July 2009. Previously she acted as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2004 to 2008.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (born 27 October 1945), was the 35th President of Brazil, elected in 2002 and re-elected in 2006 for a second term. He started his political activism at 19 by getting involved in union activities. In1980 he founded the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) or Workers’ Party. During his mandate as President, Brazil’s foreign policy became renowned for fostering “South-South” relations, the fight against poverty and the promotion of economic development and social equality around the globe.

The North-South Prize has been awarded every year since 1995 to two candidates who have stood out for their exceptional commitment to promoting North-South solidarity the candidates, preferably a man and a woman, must have distinguished themselves in the following areas: protection of human rights, defense of pluralist democracy, public awareness raising on issues of global interdependence and solidarity, and strengthening the North-South partnership.

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