The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development 2025 goes to Graça Machel, as decided by an eminent international jury led by Shivshankar Menon, India’s ex-National Security Advisor. This announcement from New Delhi celebrates a lifetime of activism for justice and equality.
Machel’s journey embodies resilience. From her roots in rural Mozambique to global stages, she has championed self-determination, rights defense, and vulnerable upliftment, always pushing for societies rooted in fairness.
Her story begins in 1945, educated in mission schools before heading to Lisbon on scholarship. Politics called her back in 1973 to fight for Mozambique’s liberation as teacher and frontline participant. Post-1975 independence, as Education and Culture Minister, she transformed schooling—enrollments exploded, especially for girls.
Globally, her 1996 UN report on war’s toll on children became a cornerstone document, influencing policies worldwide and fetching major accolades like the Nansen Award.
A pillar in organizations like The Elders and Girls Not Brides, Machel advises on UN sustainable goals, leads development institutes, and supports child forums across Africa. Her trusts focus on empowering women economically and ensuring child well-being, crowned by WHO’s top health award in 2018.
Through education revolutions, health initiatives, and crisis interventions, Machel has touched countless lives. The jury’s choice underscores her role in fostering peace and development, marking her as the 2025 prize winner.