Trailblazing Women Honored with 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for Contributions

“All too often, women face heightened risks of discrimination and violence, especially when forced to flee,” stated UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi.

Five trailblazing women—a nun, an activist, a social entrepreneur, a volunteer aid worker, and an advocate for ending statelessness—will be honored as winners of the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, presented by the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

This year’s global laureate, Sister Rosita Milesi, is a Brazilian nun, lawyer, social worker, and movement builder who has championed the rights and dignity of people on the move for nearly 40 years. The other four winners have been recognized as regional laureates.

“All too often, women face heightened risks of discrimination and violence, especially when forced to flee,” stated UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “But these five winners show how women are also playing a critical role in the humanitarian response and in finding solutions.” Grandi praised their dedication to driving action in their communities, building grassroots support, and influencing national policies.

Honoring Sister Rosita Milesi

Sister Rosita has personally assisted thousands of displaced individuals, helping them access legal documentation, shelter, food, health care, language training, and labor market integration in Brazil. As a lawyer, she played a crucial role in shaping public policy, notably through her work on Brazil’s 1997 refugee law, which amplified refugee rights in line with the 1984 Cartagena Refugee Declaration, enhancing protections for those forced to flee and aligning with international standards.

“I decided to dedicate myself to migrants and refugees,” said Sister Rosita, 79. “I’m inspired by the growing need to help, to welcome, and to integrate refugees. I’m not afraid to act, even if we don’t achieve everything we want to. If I take something on, I will turn the world upside down to make it happen,” she added.

Regional Winners

The following regional winners will also be recognized:

Maimouna Ba (Africa): An activist from Burkina Faso, Ba has helped more than 100 displaced children return to the classroom and empowered over 400 displaced women toward financial independence.

Jin Davod (Europe): A social entrepreneur who leveraged her own experience as a Syrian refugee to establish an online platform connecting thousands of trauma survivors with licensed therapists offering free mental health support.

Nada Fadol (Middle East & North Africa): A Sudanese refugee who has mobilized essential aid for hundreds of refugee families fleeing to Egypt in search of safety.

Deepti Gurung (Asia-Pacific): Gurung campaigned to reform Nepal’s citizenship laws after learning that her two daughters had become stateless, thereby opening a pathway to citizenship for them and thousands in similar situations.

Special Recognition for Moldova

Additionally, the people of Moldova will receive an honorable mention for their humanitarian efforts. Despite their own economic challenges, they transformed schools, community spaces, and homes into sanctuaries for over one million people fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Ceremony Details

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Geneva on October 14 at 7:30 p.m. CEST, hosted by South African actress Nomzamo Mbatha. The event will showcase the winners’ impactful work and feature performances by Goodwill Ambassador Kat Graham, Moldovan soprano Valentina Nafornita, and singer/songwriter Emeli Sandé (MBE). The ceremony will also be livestreamed.

The awards are made possible through support from the Governments of Norway and Switzerland, the IKEA Foundation, and the City and Canton of Geneva. They are named after Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian explorer, scientist, diplomat, and humanitarian.

The Nansen ceremony is open to journalists registered with the Palais des Nations in Geneva, and a live feed will be available for broadcasters. For assistance, please contact nansen@unhcr.org.