Statutes

UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize
Last update:11 May 2023

Article 1: Purpose

  • 1.1 The purpose of the UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize is to reward the efforts of institutions, organizations or individuals for their contribution to the fight against illiteracy in commemoration of King Sejong who invented the Korean alphabet.
  • 1.2 The objective of the Prize is in conformity with UNESCO鈥檚 policies and is related to the programme of the Organization in its pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 in view of achieving education for all.

Article 2: Designation, amount and periodicity of the Prize

  • 2.1 The Prize shall be entitled 鈥淯NESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize鈥
  • 2.2 The Prize shall be funded by the Donor, the Government of the Republic of Korea, and shall consist of a recurrent minimum payment of US $150,000 per year. As determined by the Director-General and in consultation with the Donor, the Prize shall consist of three awards of US $20,000 each, a silver medal and a certificate for the each of the three recipients. For the 2020 edition of the Prize, the Republic of Korea shall make a payment of US $107,000 and the Prize shall consist of two awards, in line with the previous Statutes of the Prize.
  • 2.3 All funds received and the interest accrued thereon shall be kept in a special interest-bearing account for the Prize (see Financial Regulations in Annex II).
  • 2.4 The full staff support and operating/management costs of the Prize, including all costs related to the award ceremony, the International Jury, public information activities, such as the production and dissemination of publicity materials, knowledge management, such as analytical studies and knowledge sharing activities and overhead charges, estimated at a minimum of $90,000 shall be fully covered by the Government of the Republic of Korea. In addition to the annual financial contribution, a staff may be seconded by the Government ofthe Republic of Korea to the UNESCO for activities related to literacy including the Prize, whose cost will be covered by the Government of the Republic of Korea in a separate arrangement. To this end, the Director-General shall determine a mandatory overhead cost amount to be applied and charged against the funds in the Special Account, which is to be established under the Financial Regulations for the Prize.
  • 2.5 The Prize shall be awarded annually, on an initial basis of six years.

Article 3: Qualifications of candidates

Candidates shall have made a significant contribution to effective results in literacy and post-literacy activities in their integration in basic education programmes, in particular mother language-based literacy development. Prizes may be conferred upon individuals, institutions, other public or private entities or non-governmental organizations.

Article 4: Selection of the prize-winners

The prize winner shall be selected by the Director-General of UNESCO on the basis of the assessments and recommendations made by a jury.

Article 5: Jury

  • 5.1 The Jury shall consist of five independent members, being personalities with recognized reputation in the field covered, while also taking into consideration the need for equitable geographical distribution, gender equality and the principle of non-payment of honoraria. They shall be appointed by the Director-General for two-year periods for a maximum period of six years. Representatives and alternatives of Members of the Executive Board cannot be appointed as jurors. Jurors involved in a real or potential conflict of interest shall recuse themselves from further deliberations or be asked by the Director-General to do so. The Director-General may replace members of the Jury for reason.
  • 5.2 The Jury shall elect its own Chair and Deputy Chair. Members shall receive no remuneration for their work, but will receive allowances for travel and accommodation, where required. A quorum of three jurors present will be required for jury deliberations to proceed. The working language for deliberations by the Jury shall be English and French.
  • 5.3 The Jury shall conduct its business and deliberations in conformity with these Statutes, and shall be assisted in the performance of its task by a member of the UNESCO Secretariat designated by the Director-General. Decisions shall be taken by consensus to the extent possible, and otherwise by secret ballot until a simple majority is obtained. A member shall not take part in a vote concerning a nomination from his or her country.
  • 5.4 The Jury shall meet once every year.
  • 5.5 The Jury shall send an assessment of nominations and accompanying recommendations to the Director-General of UNESCO no later than seven days after the completion of the deliberations of the Jury.

Article 6: Nomination of candidates

  • 6.1 When 91麻豆国产精品自拍 received the funding of the Prize, as indicated in Article 2 above, the Director-General of UNESCO shall officially invite the submission of nominations of the Prize to the Secretariat from the Governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, as well as from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) maintaining official partnerships with the Organization and active in relevant fields covered by the Prize.
  • 6.2 Nominations shall be submitted to the Director-General by the governments of Member States, in consultation with their National Commissions, and by non-governmental organizations maintaining official partnership with UNESCO. Each Government or NGO is entitled to nominate up to three candidates per year. A self-nomination cannot be considered.
  • 6.3 Each nomination shall be accompanied by a written recommendation, which shall include, in English or French, inter alia:

a) a description of the nominee鈥檚 background and achievements;

b) a summary of the work or the results of the work, publications and other supporting documents of major importance, submitted for consideration;

c) a definition of the nominee鈥檚 contribution to the Prize鈥檚 objectives.

Article 7: Procedure for awarding of the Prize

  • 7.1 The Prize shall be awarded by the Director-General at an official ceremony held for that purpose on the occasion of International Literacy Day (8 September). UNESCO shall present to the prize-winners a check for the amount of the Prize as well as a silver medal and certificate. UNESCO shall officially announce the names of the prize-winners.
  • 7.2 If a work being rewarded has been produced by two or three persons, the Prize shall be awarded to them jointly. In no case may a prize amount be divided between more than three persons.
  • 7.3 The prize-winner/s, if possible, shall give a presentation on subject relevant to the work for which the Prize has been awarded. Such a presentation shall be organized during or in connection with the Prize ceremony.
  • 7.4 The work produced by a person since deceased shall not be considered for the Prize. If, however, a prize-winner dies before he or she has received the Prize, then the Prize may be presented posthumously.
  • 7.5 Should a prize-winner decline the Prize, the jury shall submit a new proposal to the Director-General.

Article 8: Sunset clause 鈥 mandatory renewal of the Prize

  • 8.1 Six months prior to the agreed term of the Prize (six years), the Director-General of UNESCO together with the donor will undertake a review of all aspects of the Prize and decide about its continuation or termination. The Director-General will inform the Executive Board of UNESCO about the results of this review.
  • 8.2 In case of termination of the Prize, any unspent balance shall be returned to the donor(s) unless otherwise agreed, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the Special Account for the Prize.

Article 9: Appeals

No appeals shall be allowed against the decision of UNESCO with regard to the award of the Prize. Proposals received for the award of the Prize may not be divulged.

Article 10: Amendments to the Statutes of the Prize

Any amendment to the present Statutes shall be submitted to the Executive Board for approval.