During Monday’s ceremony she gave credit to the people behind the welcome of more than one million refugees, mostly from Syria, after she opened Germany’s doors to them in 2015 and 2016.
Merkel said she would donate the $150,000 prize (CHF150,000) for the UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award to four other regional laureates who were also recognised at a Geneva ceremony.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, welcomed Merkel and presented her with the award after hailing “her leadership, her courage, her compassion, her positive, principled influence in Europe and in the world.”
Merkel, who has not made many public appearances since leaving office in December, praised others for the welcome that she oversaw at a time when many Syrians were fleeing entrenched conflict at home — a conflict that continues today.
She also praised Turkey, Syria’s northern neighbour, for taking in 3.8 million refugees, and pointed to the huge numbers of Syrian refugees taken in by Lebanon and Jordan relative to their populations.
The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award honors individuals, groups or organisations that go “above and beyond the call of duty” to protect refugees and other displaced and stateless people.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will help Switzerland in EU talks
This content was published on
Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
This content was published on
Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
The UN Refugee Convention turns 70
This content was published on
The international treaty has allowed many lives to be saved, but the international community must uphold its principles, says the UN Refugee Agency.
This content was published on
It’s the last newsletter, and the last Inside Geneva podcast, of the year, and what better people to talk to than the humanitarian community?
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.