We the Peoples 2021

For more than 20 years, the United Nations Foundation has recognized with its annual Global Leadership Awards the extraordinary contributions of individuals and organizations who have furthered the work of the United Nations and advanced its mission of creating a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world for everyone, everywhere.

Today, the Awards are presented at “We The Peoples,” a signature event named for the inspiring opening words of the UN Charter and honoring the profound vision of the UN’s founders: to save future generations from the scourge of war, reaffirm faith in human rights and equal rights, ensure justice and international law, and promote social progress and freedom.

While the pandemic will not allow us to gather in person this year, we believe it is more important than ever to showcase extraordinary leadership in a challenged world and as the global community seeks to tackle our greatest collective challenges and build a better future. We will feature the awards through a digital event on the eve of Human Rights Day with short videos highlighting each of our honorees.

Among our exceptional honorees, each year we celebrate UN Heroes whose dedication to the UN’s purpose and values is the lifeblood of its work.

This year, we also inaugurate a new SDG Vanguard Award to recognize leaders whose work and impact reflects the urgency of the SDG agenda and the imperative to leave no one behind.