Back in 1984, Archbishop Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize award. He recently scored another big one at an annual celebration of Human Rights Day which was held virtually where peers paid tribute to “The Arch”.
The Article3.org awarded Tutu with the Human Rights Global Treasure Award in recognition of his lifelong commitment to advancing peace, equity, equality and human rights.
“Archbishop Tutu’s lifetime of leadership and action is particularly timely at this moment. We are at the precipice, and the path forward for human rights will require us to extend unconditional love to others, be bold with our ideas, and commit to staying the course amid unprecedented volatility,” said Darian Swig, founder of Article3.org.
Tutu, who is an Elder Emeritus, was described as a “leader in addressing and ending apartheid in SA”, and had continued to consistently advocate for those facing violence, discrimination, and marginalisation within their communities.
“He is a long-time advocate for gay and lesbian people around the globe and has condemned persecution based on sexual orientation and gender identity in countries like Uganda. More recently, Tutu has been an active voice in calling attention to the state-sanctioned violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar. Archbishop Tutu’s commitment to human rights earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984,” the organisation said.
“Now more than ever, it’s important that we see the common humanity in one another and understand the interconnectedness of ourselves, our communities, and our nations,” said Piyushi Kotecha, CEO of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.