Mozambican rights activist and humanitarian Graca Machel has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2025, the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust announced on Wednesday (January 21, 2026).
The decision was taken by an international jury chaired by former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.
Ms. Machel was chosen for her “path-breaking work” in the fields of education, health and nutrition, economic empowerment and humanitarian action, carried out under difficult circumstances, the Trust said in a statement.
The award carries a cash prize of ₹1 crore along with a citation and a trophy.
Describing her as a distinguished African stateswoman and human rights advocate, the Trust said Ms. Machel’s life’s work has been rooted in the struggle for self-determination and the protection of vulnerable communities.
In the 1990s, Ms. Machel led a landmark United Nations study on the impact of armed conflict on children, which reshaped global humanitarian responses. She has since served on several international bodies and founded institutions promoting women’s empowerment, child development and social transformation.
