Among the top 10 finalists for the New Generation Democracy Award to be selected by the Kofi Annan Foundation, Ms. Esther Ze Naw, a Kachin ethnic woman, a pro-democracy activist from Myanmar, is also included.
Regarding this, Ms. Esther Ze Naw said, “Should we call it the Kofi Annan Democracy Succession Award for the New Generation … For that, I was selected as one of top 10 finalists from among young people under the age of 30 who are active in democracy in various countries around the world. Special thanks to the organizations and individuals who trust me, contact me and carefully write the profile and submit it,” she said.
The Kofi Annan Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting better global governance and strengthening the capacity of individuals and countries to achieve a just and more peaceful world.
This foundation was officially established in Switzerland in 2007 by Kofi Annan, the former Secretary General of the United Nations.
Ms. Esther Ze Naw, a young Kachin ethnic woman, was selected by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2021, along with the National Unity Government’s (NUG) Deputy Minister, Ms. Ei Thinzar Maung. The two led the first anti-protest in Yangon after the February 1 military coup.
Ms. Esther Ze Naw led the campaign to build libraries for young refugees and is also a member of the Kachin Peace Network.
In addition, when Myanmar was prosecuted for genocide at the ICJ, thousands of people in the center of Yangon, when they gathered in front of Maha bandoola Park and protested, Ms. Esther Ze Naw and Ms. Ei Thinzar Maung gathered together and distributed leaflets against the genocide.
“Whether I win the award or not, I will continue doing what I have to do. I am thinking of creating an education fund for the youth who participated in the spring revolution for the cause of democracy,” she said.