The people of the Republic of Moldova will receive an honorable mention at the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award for going above and beyond the call of duty to protect refugees who sought safety in the Republic of Moldova after fleeing the full-scale war in Ukraine. The award will be presented at a ceremony in Geneva on October 14. Joining the Aramă family at the Geneva ceremony will be the renowned Moldovan soprano and UNHCR high-profile supporter, Valentina Nafornița, who will also perform on stage, IPN reports

This recognition highlights Moldova’s swift and compassionate action in response to one of the largest refugee movements in Europe’s modern history, the most significant since the Second World War.

The nomination period for the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award ran from 24 January until 20 March 2024. A nomination for the People of Moldova was received among hundreds of nominations. The winners are selected by an independent Nansen Selection Committee. Selection is based on the nominee’s impact, innovation, commitment to advocacy, and collaboration. While other nominees won the global and regional awards in 2024, the UNHCR Selection Committee chose to recognize the People of Moldova as an honorary mention for their exceptional contribution to refugee protection. The UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award Selection Committee selects the Nansen winners every year through a confidential process.

Named after Norwegian humanitarian and diplomat Fridtjof Nansen, the UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award has been recognized since 1954 individuals, groups or organizations that have shown exceptional dedication in protecting and assisting refugees.