Germany awarded its highest honor to former Chancellor Angela Merkel during a formal ceremony recognizing her leadership on refugee matters. The UN Refugee Agency presented the Nansen Award to Merkel, highlighting the decision to welcome hundreds of thousands of refugees during a time of global upheaval. The ceremony took place as Merkel defended the policy of asylum and protection she championed in 2015 and 2016, challenging voices that argued for a smaller, more isolated Germany.
Supporters emphasized that a confident nation should remain open to newcomers and should not forcibly return individuals fleeing persecution. Merkel acknowledged the immense challenge posed by the 2015 2016 refugee surge but stressed the importance of a humane, principled approach to migration that reflects core European values.
At the Geneva ceremony, Merkel reflected on the substantial influx, much of it from Syria, and thanked Germanys local governments and countless families who participated in welcoming efforts. She expressed hope that exemplary acts would inspire broader compassion and lead more people to assist those in need, noting that individuals do not decide to leave their homelands lightly and without weighing the consequences.
Merkel also pointed to neighboring countries in the region that faced significant pressures beyond Germanys borders, including Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, each hosting large Syrian communities and bearing substantial economic costs. The award presentation highlighted the international dimension of refugee protection and the responsibilities of leaders toward vulnerable populations.
During the ceremony, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi praised Merkel for showing vision, courage, and resolve as Germany opened its doors to many refugees. Grandi called her a moral compass guiding Europe and the wider world toward humane policies during difficult times. His remarks underscored the relevance of strong, principled leadership amid a world where millions have been forced to flee their homes.
The Nansen Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to refugee protection and humanitarian aid. Merkel played a pivotal role in shaping Germanys reception of asylum seekers between 2015 and 2016, when the country offered shelter to about 1.2 million people fleeing conflict. She explained the need to confront a situation that tested European values and rejected nationalist arguments that would undermine protection for those in peril.
In a gesture aligned with the awards purpose, Merkel pledged to donate the prize money of 150,000 dollars to regional winners in four categories. The recipients included the volunteer fire brigade of Mbera in Mauritania, Nicaraguan humanitarian advocate Vicenta Gonzalez, Myanmar based Meikswe Myanmar, and Iraqi gynecologist Nagham Hasan. The gesture underscored the awards emphasis on grassroots and regional humanitarian efforts.
The Nansen Award is named after Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian explorer and pioneer in refugee rights who served as the first high commissioner for refugees. The prize honors decades of commitment to protecting displaced people and supporting reintegration and safe asylum. In recent years the award has recognized the work of volunteers and activists who contributed to resolving crises across Greece, Colombia, and other countries facing displacement and gender based violence among affected populations.