For over 40 years, Prof. O'Malley has worked to bring together groups of people whose opposition to each other has torn their countries apart, notably in Northern Ireland, South Africa and Iraq.
Marking the finale of the investment migration firm's 13th annual Global Citizenship Conference, the Global Citizen Award gala dinner took place in the Grand Ballroom of the Rosewood Hotel in London and was attended by heads of government, policymakers, thought leaders, and industry experts from around the world.
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners and of the Global Citizen Award Committee, explained the choice of laureate for this year: "With nationalism and isolationism on the rise, it can sometimes feel that ideals of collaboration and cooperation are falling out of favor. Prof. Padraig O'Malley's dedication to these ideals shows us that a better world is possible if we set aside our differences and work together."
Prof. O'Malley has been deeply involved in the peace process in Northern Ireland, playing a critical role in bringing together opposing factions and laying the groundwork for the Good Friday Agreement. In South Africa, he chronicled the transition from apartheid to democracy and is recognized as having played a central, largely unsung, role in that transition. In Iraq, he persuaded leaders of the country's warring political and religious factions to meet in Finland for discussions that would form the basis of a peace agreement.
Thanking Henley & Partners for its recognition of his work, Prof. O'Malley said, "The process of building peace is not about ensuring that one group's views prevail over another but about constructing a shared vision for a better future. Working with societies in transition has shown me that even though we face different problems, challenges, and contexts, we can both learn from and offer lessons to each other."
As in previous years, the 2019 laureate was selected from a pool of nominees by an independent award committee. Previous recipients of the award include Diep N. Vuong, Co-Founder and President of Pacific Links Foundation, which campaigns for the rights of victims of human trafficking, Monique Morrow, President and Co-Founder of The Humanized Internet, which uses new technologies to defend the rights of vulnerable people, Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder of Africa's largest disaster relief organization, the Gift of the Givers Foundation, and Harald Hoeppner, Founder of refugee aid project Sea Watch.
As Dr. Kaelin says: "Rather than honoring politicians or celebrities, the committee recognizes those who have on-the-ground insight into a significant global issue and whose work outlook demonstrates an understanding of the true meaning of global citizenship."
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