Maja Koene International Peace Award for Mazher Hussain
CESCI Switzerland and CESCI India confered Maja Koene International
Peace Award 2023 on Dr. Mazher Hussain, Founder and Executive Director of COVA.

This Award is for his work over three decades for prevention of violence,
community development and building goodwill and
solidarity in South Asia and Globally.

Overview of some contributions of Mazher Hussain and COVA for Harmony and Peace.
1. Contributed to prevention of communal riots in Hyderabad.

2. Facilitated meeting of Indian Parliamentarians and Hurriat Leaders in 2010
that resulted in reduction of violence in Jammu & Kashmir for 4 years

3. Provided a platform for common people of India and Pakistan to assert their desire and
demand for peace through the Flags for Peace Program initiated in 2004 by
COVA and partners that inspires spectators from both countries to wave their Flags together in
Stadia during Cricket matches anywhere in the world:- and
thereby make a clear Foreign Policy Statement for Friendship and Peace.
Flags of Aggression have now become Flags for Peace

4. Post Gujarat riots in 2002, facilitated collaborations between organisations from
different communities engaged in working for the riot affected. This provided relief and
rehabilitation to all across communal divides and also subsequently brought
together communities for peaceful coexistence.

5. Partnering with initiatives to bring together different communities in conflict in Manpur to work
towards securing peace in the violence torn State.

6. Introduced the Concept of Multi Faith Celebrations where families are encouraged to
invite their neighbours from other religions and
communities to their homes to celebrate festivals together.
This is leading to understanding the reasons for celebrating a festival,
the commonality of values promoted with other religions and fostering respect for all faiths.
When Multi Faith Celebrations start trending, understanding,
respect and peace in society is gauranteed!

7. Intra Faith Initiatives: These go beyond Inter Faith Programs
Most religions are now wesponised and are being used to spread hate and
encourage violence against followers of other faiths
The only way to check this growing menace is to get leaders of every faith to critique the
misuse of their own religion and urge their congregations to not engage in or
allow abuse of their religion for hatred and violence against anyone.
Some Faith Leaders have started Intra Faith Initiatives with their
congregations and getting good response and results!
The day abuse of every religion for hate and violence is checked by its
own faith leaders and believers –
Through Intra Faith Critique, that will be the Day of Perpetual Heaven on Earth

For more initiatives, actions and programs undertaken for peace
by COVA, please visit: http://www.covanet.work.org