Angela Merkel: Former German chancellor receives Unesco peace prize

Veteran leader praised for welcoming 1.2 million refugees to Germany in 2015 and 2016

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel receives the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize in Yamoussoukro, the Ivory Coast, on February 8. AFP

Germany's former chancellor Angela Merkel received a prestigious UN award on Wednesday for opening her country to refugees during her time in office.

Germany welcomed more than 1.2 million refugees and asylum seekers in 2015 and 2016, for which Ms Merkel was awarded the Felix Houphouet-Boigny Unesco Peace Prize in Ivory Coast's capital Yamoussoukro.

The award is named after Ivory Coast's first president.

"The jury wanted to honour the courageous decision taken in 2015 to welcome more than a million refugees … when at the same time so many voices were calling for the closure of Europe," said Audrey Azoulay, director general of Unesco.

"You were, at that time, the vision of courage in politics."

Ms Merkel's decision came at the peak of a crisis fuelled by the war in Syria.

"Respecting, preserving and sharing human rights is the mission of each of us," said the veteran former leader, who spent 16 years at the helm and stepped down in 2021.

"We decided that it was necessary to respect these principles in our migration policy.

Angela Merkel through the years - in pictures

After a long goodbye, Angela Merkel finally reached the end on Wednesday of her 16-year term as Germany’s first female chancellor, Europe’s most powerful leader and one of the world’s most durable crisis managers. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel poses with ministers and other members of her government after a cabinet meeting in Berlin on November 24, 2021. AFP

Mrs Merkel receives a bouquet of flowers from Olaf Scholz as she arrives for probably her last weekly cabinet meeting on November 24. Getty Images

From right to left, US President Joe Biden, Ms Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pose before a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome, in October 2021. AP

Mrs Merkel visiting flood-ravaged areas to survey the damage and meet survivors in July 2021, in Schuld, near Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel addressing the nation via a video statement about the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, on March 18, 2020. It was the first time in her 15-year tenure as chancellor that Mrs Merkel addressed citizens directly via a televised statement other than her New Year's Eve message. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel speaks to China's President Xi Jinping and Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a group photo session in front of Japan's Osaka Castle, at the G20 summit in June 2019. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel deliberates with former US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the June 2018 G7 summit in Canada. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel and Mr Putin meet at Schloss Meseberg palace, the German government retreat, in August 2018. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel wears safety goggles during a visit to the European Astronauts Centre in Cologne, in 2016. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel poses for a selfie with Anas Modamani, a refugee from Syria, as she visited the AWO Refugium Askanierring shelter for migrants and refugees in September 2015, in Berlin. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel speaks with former US president Barack Obama during a G7 summit in 2015. AP Photo

Mrs Merkel and German President Joachim Gauck celebrate with the German national football team after its 1-0 victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Final match against Argentina in 2014. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel waves at an election campaign rally for federal elections in Dusseldorf, in 2013. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel smiles as she sits in the chancellor's chair for the first time at the German lower house of parliament in November 2005. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel raises her fists at the Lower Saxony Christian Democratic Party's annual general meeting in 2005. Getty Images

Mrs Merkel speaks at the CDU party congress in December 2003, in Leipzig. Getty Images

"This was only possible because many people rolled up their sleeves on the ground."

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said: "Despite the hostility of public opinion, you took the decision to open Germany's borders to refugees fleeing conflict zones," said Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.

"You have reminded all world leaders of their duty of solidarity towards all humans."

About 2,000 people were invited to the ceremony, which was established in 1989 and has handed awards to Nelson Mandela, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Francois Hollande.

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