WASHINGTON, Feb. 27,
2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Institute of Peace
(USIP) is honored to announce Visaka
Dharmadasa of Sri
Lanka as the Fifth Annual Laureate of USIP's Women Building
Peace Award.
This international award, which is given annually, honors women
of extraordinary commitment, leadership and impact who are working
to resolve violent conflict and build peace in their
communities.
"Visaka is a woman of courage and tenacity," said Ambassador
George Moose, USIP's Acting
President and CEO. "As someone who has worked as a peacebuilder for
over three decades, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment
to peace in the face of extreme difficulties."
USIP's Women Building Peace Council, comprised of distinguished
experts and advisers, selected the Laureate and two Finalists,
Lilly BeSoer of Papua New
Guinea and Mairo Mandara of Nigeria. The three women were selected from
over 170 nominations received from 52 countries.
"In Sri Lanka, where conflict has been fueled by societal
divisions, Visaka's work is a testament to the power of mediation
and compassion," said Council Co-Chairs Marcia Carlucci and
Megan Beyer.
Visaka Dharmadasa is the chair
and chief operations officer of the Association of War Affected
Women, an organization that facilitates cross-community dialogues
and educates soldiers and community leaders about international
standards for the conduct of war. In the midst of Sri Lanka's civil war, after her son, a young
military officer, was reported missing in action, Visaka
established Parents of Servicemen Missing in Action as a mechanism
for families to investigate the fate of loved ones who had been
reported as missing.
Today, Visaka Dharmadasa's
organization empowers Sri Lankan women and prepares them for
leadership opportunities in their communities and in local
government.
For information on USIP's Women Building Peace Award, visit
www.usip.org/womenbuildingpeace
For information on USIP, visit: https://www.usip.org/about
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SOURCE United States Institute of Peace
