Year 2004 winner:
Medecins Sans Frontiers
The Winner of the King Hussein Humanitarian Leadership
Prize 2004:
The world’s largest medical humanitarian movement Médecins Sans
Frontières (MSF), received the fifth King Hussein Humanitarian
Leadership for its work in providing emergency humanitarian and medical
assistance to people in distress around the world.
The prize was presented at a ceremony by His Majesty King Abdullah II,
Patron of the King Hussein Foundation, to Dr. Rowan Gillies, President
of MSF’s International Council. Her Majesty Queen Noor, chair of the
King Hussein Foundation, said the award “epitomizes the purpose of the
Foundation — to honor His Late Majesty King Hussein’s lifelong
leadership, work and commitment to peace and development throughout the
world.”
“In carrying out humanitarian assistance, MSF raises awareness of
crisis situations; it speaks out about the plight of people it is
assisting while trying to restore their dignity as human beings,” she
said. “They give a voice to the dispossessed and oppressed.”
King Hussein Leadership prize was awarded to Medecins Sans Frontieres
for their unrelenting efforts as an advocate of human rights, and their
efforts in relieving suffering, by working directly with those in need,
ensuring respect for their dignity, and endeavoring to provide the best
possible care for all those in need. MSF provides relief and medical
care to those living through a crisis that threatens their physical and
mental well-being. MSF is an organization that is independent of all
political, religious, military or economic influence. Founded in Paris,
in 1971, by a small group of French doctors and journalists, it is now
an international movement. MSF’s mission is to assist people in
distress, without discriminating in any way, and ensuring respect for
human dignity.
Announcing its choice for 2004, the King Hussein Prize Selection
Committee declared:
“Médecins Sans Frontières truly demonstrates the importance of
creative and fearless leadership in the face of some of the worst
conflict situations and crises in the world. Over 2,500 volunteers join
16,000 locally hired staff in the field to provide vital independent
humanitarian and medical aid to victims of natural or man-made disasters
and victims of armed conflict, regardless of their religion or political
conviction, in almost 80 countries.”
Dr. Rowan Gillies said, “the award comes at a time of increasing
attempts to politicize humanitarian action and is an encouragement to
all those who reject this manipulation and believe that humanitarian aid
should remain independent and must be based solely on the needs of the
people it is trying to assist.”
