Staffan de Mistura is the UN Envoy to Syria, appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2014.

Staffan de Mistura previously served as the UN Envoy for Afghanistan, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the chief of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

De Mistura won the award for his steadfast commitment to women’s participation.

“Anywhere that we can, we should have women involved in peace,” said de Mistura, who dedicated his award to the women of Syria. “They are very creative, and we need creativity apart from determination.”