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Special Félix Houphouët-Boigny – UNESCO Peace Prize
Quito, Ecuador – 19 May 2025 — The Afro-Ecuadorian Social Development Foundation AZUCAR, led by Sonia Viveros, has been awarded the 2024 Special Félix Houphouët-Boigny – UNESCO Peace Research Prize in recognition of its tireless work in defending the rights of people of African descent in Latin America and its ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society.
The award ceremony will take place on 22 May 2025 at the Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire in Côte d’Ivoire and will be organized by UNESCO. Established in 1989, this prestigious prize honors individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to the promotion and maintenance of peace, in accordance with the values of UNESCO and the Charter of the United Nations.
In this edition, the jury will also present the 2024 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize to António Luís Santos da Costa, current President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Portugal, for his strong commitment to multilateralism, dialogue, and sustainable development.
AZUCAR Foundation: 31 Years of Making History
Since its founding, the AZÚCAR Foundation has championed the rights of Afro-descendant peoples and the construction of a plurinational and intercultural state based on equal rights. Legally recognized since the year 2000, the foundation has played a key role in promoting the visibility of Afro-Ecuadorian culture, history, and struggles.
Its motto, “To be of African descent is to carry a universal legacy that must be known, transmitted, shared, respected… for being both different and unique”, encapsulates the spirit of its mission.
Among its most impactful contributions are:
•&Բ;ճ approval of the National Day of Afro-Ecuadorian, Black and Afro-descendant Women (25 July), driven by the mobilization of Black women in 2022.
•&Բ;ճ designation of the first Sunday of October as Afro-Ecuadorian People’s Day, in effect since 1997.
•&Բ;ճ creation of cultural platforms such as the “Three Worlds” Intercultural Festival and Fair, which promotes Afro identity through music, dance, and education.
• Participation in international forums such as COP16, where Afro-descendant peoples gained recognition for their role in biodiversity protection.
The foundation has also been a powerful voice in denouncing structural poverty affecting Afro-Ecuadorian women, who face a multidimensional poverty rate of 38.9% and income poverty rate of 30.6%, both above the national average (UN Women, 2023).
Alliances for Justice and Equality
In June 2024, the AZÚCAR Foundation, in collaboration with the UNESCO Office in Ecuador, organized the technical roundtable “Towards Justice and Equality: Historical Reparations and the Future of Afro-descendant Communities in Ecuador.” This space fostered reflection and proposals addressing the historical debt owed to these communities.
The full report of the event is available here:
A Recognition That Crosses Borders
The award ceremony will feature institutional speeches on the contemporary challenges to peace and international dialogue, along with artistic performances that celebrate the power of culture as a bridge between peoples.
Through this recognition, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to a world grounded in tolerance, anti-racism, cooperation, and mutual respect.
More information: /en/prizes/felix-houphouet-boigny?hub=66596
