Sister Rosita Milesi, a 79-year-old nun from Brazil, has been awarded the prestigious Nansen Refugee Award by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR). This annual award recognizes individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting and supporting displaced people. Sister Milesi, a member of the Scalabrini nuns, has devoted her life to advocating for the rights of refugees and the internally displaced in Brazil, using her background as a lawyer and social worker to make a significant impact.
Why was Sister Rosita Milesi recognized for this award? For over 40 years, she has been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts in Brazil, particularly through her role as the director of the Migration and Human Rights Institute. Her work has focused on helping refugees integrate into society, ensuring that they receive the support they need to rebuild their lives. Despite facing many challenges, Sister Milesi’s commitment to this cause has remained unwavering.
Sister Milesi’s dedication is rooted in her personal history. Coming from a humble family of Italian descent, her parents were poor farmers in southern Brazil. She became a nun at the young age of 19 and soon found her calling in helping those displaced by conflict and crisis. Throughout her career, she has been motivated by the growing need to assist refugees, and she remains fearless in her pursuit of justice and protection for vulnerable populations.
In her acceptance speech, Sister Milesi emphasized her determination to help those in need, stating, “I’m inspired by the growing need to help, to welcome, and to integrate refugees. I’m not afraid to act, even if we don’t achieve everything we want.” This statement highlights her strong belief in the importance of taking action, no matter how difficult the task.
Sister Milesi now joins a distinguished list of Nansen Refugee Award laureates, including former U.S. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. These individuals and organizations have all made significant contributions to supporting refugees worldwide, making Sister Milesi’s recognition even more noteworthy.
The Nansen Refugee Award, first presented in 1954, is named after Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian humanitarian, scientist, and diplomat. Nansen is best known for creating the “Nansen passport,” which provided stateless people with identification and protection. His work laid the foundation for modern refugee protection efforts, and he was posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1938.
Sister Rosita Milesi’s dedication to helping refugees reflects the same spirit of compassion and action that Nansen embodied. Her lifelong commitment to advocating for the rights of displaced people continues to inspire others to take up the cause of humanitarian work.