Ms. Irina Bokova
Director-General of UNESCO
UNESCO Headquarters
7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France

cc. The Executive Board of UNESCO

June 13, 2010

RE: UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasongo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences

Dear Director-General Bokova,

In anticipation of Tuesday´s meeting of UNESCO´s Executive Board, we write to share with you the attached petition, which includes the signatures of many African critics of the UNESCO-Obiang Prize...As Africans, we wholeheartedly understand the value and impetus for solidarity among African nations. However, we also believe that we would all be diminished if we closed our eyes and washed our hands of the problems that other African brothers and sisters are facing. We understand the apprehension of some member states of UNESCO to publicly oppose this prize, in view of how their position might be mischaracterized by some as “anti-African.” In that regard, we wish to unequivocally state that standing up for the people of Equatorial Guinea and their right to live free from oppression and needless poverty—and thereby opposing the UNESCO-Obiang prize—is the truly pro-African position.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER IN FULL.

(Washington, DC, June 14, 1010) - This weekend many African scholars, professionals, and individuals contacted UNESCO to express their opposition to the UNESCO-Obiang prize and call for its cancelation. On Friday, Archbishop Desmond Tutu released a statement saying that he was “appalled that [UNESCO], which holds such promise, is allowing itself to burnish the unsavory reputation of a dictator,” and called on UNESCO to reconsider the prize.

Then, on Sunday, EG Justice sent a petition with nearly 250 signatories to UNESCO. The petition was signed by many citizens of Equatorial Guinea and individuals from 15 other African countries. Protest letters from various other organizations and individuals have been sent to UNESCO and include signatories by Africans from a total of 34 countries across the continent. Included among these was the letter that EG Justice sent to UNESCO in March of 2010 which was signed by dozens of Equatoguinean academics both inside the country and living in exile.

Tomorrow UNESCO’s Executive Board meets again and will discuss the future of the prize. Clear opposition from around the world, including in African, makes it ever clearer that the board should act swiftly to abolish the prize. EG Justice urges UNESCO’s Executive Board to not heed to the Government of Equatorial Guinea’s recent statement, in which it falsely labels organizations opposed to the creation of the UNESCO-Obiang prize as “racist” and “colonialist.” This is the time to show courage and side with the people of Equatorial Guinea.