Since 1961, the pioneering recognition for Visionary Governance® and peaceful cooperation has honoured the leaders, nations and institutions whose long-term thinking and planetary stewardship are shaping the future of humanity.
The Gold Mercury Awards® are presented to heads of state, global CEOs, founders, pioneers, enterprises and international institutions whose vision, foresight and long-horizon leadership exemplify Visionary Governance® across eight critical areas of global governance — from planetary futures and peaceful cooperation to technological stewardship, civilisational leadership and the advancement of human progress.
The Gold Mercury Awards
Awards legacy in motion: a pioneering recognition fueling tomorrow's visionary guardians
Kerry Kennedy, Human Rights Defender
Alvaro Uribe Velez, President of Colombia
US President Ronald Reagan
His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet Leader
HM King Juan Carlos I of Spain
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia
Anwar Sadat, President of Egypt
Zhao Ziyang, Chinese Premier
US President, Gerald Ford
H.E. Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain
George Pompidou, President of France
Gold Mercury Awards: Lessons in Visionary Governance
PROTECTING CHILDREN
Recognising and supporting the needs of street children and young adults around the world.
A CULTURE OF PEACE
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Lessons in peaceful dialogue, non-violence and a wisdom culture.
FEEDING THE WORLD
CGIAR is protecting global sustainable food security, reducing rural poverty, and improving human health.
The Gold Mercury Awards
OVER SIX DECADES RECOGNISING WORLD LEADERS
MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY | 2009
Towards a safer Colombia. President Uribe receives Gold Mercury Award.
MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY | 1972
Watch Video: The USSR and the Cold War. Soviet Leader Brezhnev receiving the Gold Mercury Award for nuclear arms reduction.
MOMENTS IN OUR HISTORY | 1979
Anwar Sadat, Gold Mercury Award winner for the Camp David Accords, which outlined a historic peace agreement with Israel.
Long before they became global icons, Gold Mercury recognised founders whose vision, innovation and leadership helped create the future.
MEGAVISIONARY FOUNDERS
AKIO MORITA, CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER SONY
Gold Mercury Award for advancing technological development in electronics.
RUDOLPH DASSLER, FOUNDER PUMA
Gold Mercury Award for his contribution to the development of the sportswear industry worldwide.
SOICHIRO HONDA, FOUNDER, HONDA MOTOR CO.
Gold Mercury Award for the economic development of Japanese industry and manufacturing innovation.
GOLD MERCURY MOVIE
Watch the movie about the history and legacy of the Gold Mercury Awards.
The Gold Mercury Award challenge areas
Since 1961, Gold Mercury has identified eight critical areas of planetary challenge — the defining frontiers where Visionary Governance®, long-horizon leadership and the courage to Govern from the Future® determine whether humanity advances or retreats.
The Gold Mercury Awards® recognise the leaders, nations, enterprises and institutions whose vision, foresight and tangible achievements are advancing humanity's response to these challenges — evaluated and determined by the Gold Mercury Award Nomination and Selection Committee.
The eight challenge areas are:
Global Peace & Security
Advancing the frameworks, diplomacy and cooperative systems through which lasting peace and planetary security are built and protected.
Global Economic & Social Policy
Designing the economic and social systems that advance human prosperity, equity and civilisational resilience across generations.
Global Resources
Governing the planetary resources on which all human life depends — with the foresight and stewardship that future generations will require.
Global Environment
Designing and advancing the environmental frameworks and planetary stewardship practices through which humanity and the natural world coexist and flourish.
Global Science & Technology
Harnessing the exponential technologies and scientific breakthroughs that are reshaping society — with the Visionary Governance® to ensure they serve humanity's long-horizon future.
Global Health
Advancing the health systems, scientific capabilities and cooperative frameworks through which human life is protected and human potential is realised.
Rule of Law & Humanitarian Affairs
Promoting the Rule of Law as the foundation of freedom, democracy and peaceful cooperation — and advancing the humanitarian principles on which a just and civilised world depends.
Global Culture
Cultivating the cultural understanding, shared values and civilisational vision through which humanity builds a common identity and a shared planetary future.
Eight global challenge areas.
One Award.
The Gold Mercury Awards® recognise those whose vision and leadership are solving what matters most for humanity's planetary future.
Global Economic and Social Policy Award
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The Gold Mercury Global Economic & Social Policy Award is bestowed upon individuals, institutions and states to reward their efforts and achievements in promoting sustainable social and economic policies and activities. In order to be eligible for the Gold Mercury Global Economic & Social Policy Award, the candidate may have developed or put into practice an economic model, activity or theory that promotes stability between the state and society, and social well-being.
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Global Corporate, Economic & Financial Governance, Sustainable Industrial Development, Global Population Growth & Migration, Advancing Economic Development & Protecting Trade Among Nations.
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-Sustainable Industrial Growth.
-Prevention of economic shocks.
-Promoting ethical frameworks for Corporate Governance.
-Carrying capacity strategies.
-Promoting sustainable migration policies.
-Tackling brain drain in developing countries.
-Reducing poverty, the wealth gap and social inequalities.
-Developing strategies which counter unemployment.
-Advancing fair trade & economic empowerment.
-Protecting international agreements that foster cooperation.
-Improving labour standards & protecting social welfare.-Facilitating economic and social mobility
Global Peace & Security Award
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The Gold Mercury Global Peace & Security Award is given to individuals or organisations for their contributions towards peaceful co-existence and cooperation. In order to be eligible for an Award, the candidate must have made a clear, demonstrable effort towards improving relations between people and towards decreasing the likelihood of armed conflict or violence, whilst improving long term security.
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The Gold Mercury Peace Award addresses a broad spectrum of global challenges, including advancing peace agreements, inter-faith dialogue, preventing civil conflict, promoting international cooperation, rehabilitating failed states, and guaranteeing the security and rights of people. It also focuses on strengthening global governance and multilateral cooperation, enhancing conflict resolution and mediation, addressing climate change and environmental security, and tackling global inequality and poverty. Other key areas include fostering cybersecurity and digital peace, upholding human rights and social justice, advocating for nuclear disarmament and arms control, encouraging cultural and interfaith dialogue, supporting post-conflict recovery and reconciliation, and improving global health security in the face of pandemics.
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-Global Governance and Multilateral Cooperation
-Advancing inter-faith dialogue
-Peace agreements.
-Peace building & reconstruction development assistance.
-Conflict prevention and resolution.
-Disarmament & reducing risk of weapons of mass destruction.
-Strengthening governance and the rule of law.
-Rehabilitation of failed states.
-Provision of basic services by non-state actors.
-Self-determination and institution building.
-Prevention of mass scale conflict and genocide.
-Reduction of international terrorism, extremism & fanaticism.
-Responsibility to protect (R2P) initiatives.
-Women and children security
-Fighting exploitation & slavery.
-Stopping child soldiers in armed conflict.
-Reduction of organised crime & trafficking.
-Cyber security – tackling security threats in cyberspace.
Global Science & Technology Award
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The Gold Mercury Global Science & Technology Award is given to individuals, corporations and institutions for significant achievements and inventions that advance society. In order to be eligible for the Award, the candidates must represent responsible, forward-thinking in their contribution to scientific and technological process, recognising their obligation to society as a whole.
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Scientific Inventions that Transform Society. Creating Sustainable Innovation and Infrastructure, Promoting Scientific Innovation, Scientific Cooperation & Knowledge Sharing, Advancement of Scientific Policy and Governance.
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-Leapfrogging technologies or scientific discoveries that advance society at speed.
-Investing in research and development.
-Empowering people to innovate.
-Reducing knowledge gap between the developed and the developing world.
-Addressing ethical and safety issues and promoting external accountability of scientific research (i.e. genetic modification, cloning, AI applications).
-Better integration and understanding of scientific knowledge into political decision making to advance social challenges and security.
Global Environment Award
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The Gold Mercury Global Environment Award is given to organisations, companies and individuals for their contributions to environmental sustainability. In order to be eligible for this Award, candidates must strongly support and uphold environmentally friendly practices and have found new ways of protecting the environment.
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Net positive and net zero initiatives, Stopping Climate Change, Eliminating Plastic and Waste Pollution, Stopping Loss of Biodiversity, Environmental Education, Preventing Environmental Disasters, Improvement of Weather System Controls.
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Net positive strategies and policies
Developing green technologies of the future
Reducing and eliminating carbon emissions
Communication and education on sustainability
Advancing environmental governance & law
Researching causes and implications of climate change
Promoting proper habitats management
Global Resources Award
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The Gold Mercury Global Resources Award is granted to individuals, companies and organisations that deliver new initiatives towards food security, resource renewal, preservation and equal distribution, as well as efforts towards tackling such challenges as water contamination, resource depletion, deforestation and supply shortages. In order to be eligible for the Gold Mercury Global Resources Award, the candidate must have made major contributions towards promoting these initiatives.
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Food & Water Security, Energy Security, Scarcity of Natural Energy Resources & Materials, Land & Resource Rights Management, Natural Resources Protection.
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- Reducing malnutrition and hunger.
- Finding new renewable energy sources & technologies.
- Tackling land degradation.
- Ensuring proper management of land rights allocation.
- Creation of resource efficiency initiatives.
- Developing energy efficiency initiatives.
- Creating early warning mechanisms & actions for resource protection.
- Promoting sustainable consumption.
- Monitoring of food supplies to prevent famines.
- Developing water saving mechanisms.
- Protecting sweet water reserves.
-Facilitating economic and social mobility
Global Health Award
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The Gold Mercury Global Health Award rewards individuals, organisations and corporations for significant achievements within the health sector. In order to be eligible for an Award in this category, the candidate must have made crucial advances or technological progress in one or more areas that have implications for people’s health and well-being.
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Developing Disease Prevention Mechanisms, Controlling the Spread of Diseases and Unhealthy Lifestyles, Mental Health, Improving Access to Health Care, Advancing technological data and AI management of Health.
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- Use of AI and technology in health
- Addressing ways to counter unhealthy lifestyles
- Controlling the global spread of diseases
- Promoting international cooperation and research sharing
- Improving health care systems access
- Training of new medical staff
- Infrastructure & technology projects to deliver healthcare
- Prevention technologies, practices and education
- Scientific cooperation in health sector
- Discoveries relating to understanding or curing disease
- Improvements in sanitation and nutrition
- Maternal Health
Global Culture Award
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The Gold Mercury Global Culture Award recognises and rewards initiatives that promote the work of individuals in arts, media and culture and the promotion of cultural diversity and sustainability. In order to be eligible for an Award in this category, the candidate must have shown a true commitment to advancing and protecting the creative arts, ethical media and AI use practices, education, cultural understanding and the honest, impartial and open communication of information to the public.
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Proper use of Artificial Intelligence in Culture, Media and the Arts, Preserving and Promoting the World’s Cultural Heritage, Promoting Education for All, Cultural Solidarity, Diversity & Freedom, Promoting Ethics, Philosophy and Sustainable Thought Leadership.
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- Artistic achievement in the arts
- Protection of artistic rights
- Proper governance and regulation for the use of Artificial Intelligence
- Developing new systems for advancing education and learning
- Innovation in curriculum development
- Fact checking technologies for news, media and AI
- Improving literacy and access to education
- Protecting indigenous cultures
- Ensuring youth participation in education, culture and society
- Use of the arts, sports and media for goodwill
- Ensuring freedom of information and expression
- Peaceful interfaith and intercultural dialogue and tolerance
- Promoting universal values and Global Citizenship
- New theories or frameworks for social progress
- New paradigm shift ideas to advance humanity and society
- Tackling trafficking of cultural goods
- Promoting access to arts, literature and music
- Protection of intangible assets and heritage for the future
Rule of Law and Humanitarian Affairs Award
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The Gold Mercury Rule of Law & Humanitarian Affairs Award is given to individuals and organisations in recognition of their efforts in the fields of international and national law and humanitarian affairs. In order to be eligible for an Award in this category, the candidate must have contributed to advancing the rule of law, international cooperation, foreign policy and diplomacy or advanced the basic human rights of a certain population.
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Advancing the Rule of Law around the World, Enforcing the Rule of Law, Human Rights Advancement.
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- New frameworks and laws that advance the Rule of Law
- Promoting new legal frameworks for Human Rights
- Improving international monitoring and enforcement
- Educating and awareness raising for Human Rights
- Protecting vulnerable people against human rights violations (i.e. refugees, women and children, domestic workers, LGBT, etc.)
- Protecting indigenous people
- Improving law enforcement and international cooperation
- Strengthening international courts and institutions
- Prosecuting international crimes
- Increasing inclusiveness of international treaties
Gold Mercury Awards Governance
The nomination and selection of Gold Mercury Award Laureates is conducted through a rigorous, independent and merit-based process designed to ensure fairness, integrity and excellence. The process is overseen by the Gold Mercury Awards Nomination & Selection Committee and follows the stages set out below.
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Gold Mercury® confers the Gold Mercury Awards® on outstanding individuals and organisations whose leadership, achievements and contribution have advanced humanity and made a significant impact in one or more of Gold Mercury's eight global governance areas.
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The governance of the Gold Mercury Awards® is entrusted to the Gold Mercury Awards Nomination & Selection Committee, which oversees the integrity, independence and excellence of the Awards process.
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The Gold Mercury Awards Nomination & Selection Committee is responsible for the administration, nomination, evaluation and selection of Gold Mercury Award Laureates. The Committee is chaired by the President and comprises members of the Gold Mercury Council, together with such independent experts as the President may appoint to support the nomination and evaluation process.
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Nominations may be submitted by members of the Gold Mercury Council, former Gold Mercury Award Laureates, and other distinguished individuals or institutions invited by the President. The Committee reviews all nominations, conducts appropriate due diligence and evaluates candidates against the Award Selection Criteria before preparing a shortlist for final consideration.
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The Gold Mercury Awards Nomination & Selection Committee selects Gold Mercury Award Laureates based on merit, following a rigorous, independent and confidential evaluation process. Laureates are chosen on the basis of their outstanding achievements and their contribution to humanity in accordance with Gold Mercury's mission and values.
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The Gold Mercury Awards® are open to individuals and organisations of any nationality whose leadership, achievements or contributions have made an outstanding and lasting impact on humanity in one or more of Gold Mercury's eight global governance areas.
Candidates must demonstrate exceptional merit, integrity and a record of achievement consistent with Gold Mercury's mission and values.
Self-nominations are not permitted. Candidates may only be nominated through Gold Mercury's official nomination process by eligible nominators.
The Gold Mercury Awards Nomination & Selection Committee reserves the right to determine the eligibility of all nominees, request additional information where appropriate, and decline any nomination that does not meet the Award criteria.
The Committee also reserves the right not to confer an Award in any category if, in its judgment, no nominee sufficiently meets the standards of excellence required for recognition.
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Candidates are evaluated on the basis of:
The significance, originality and global impact of their achievements.
Demonstrated leadership and contribution within one or more of Gold Mercury's eight global governance areas, in accordance with the specific evaluation criteria established for each governance area.
The advancement of peace, prosperity, sustainability, international cooperation, human development or other enduring contributions to humanity.
Visionary leadership, innovation and long-term positive impact in shaping a better future.
Integrity, ethical leadership and alignment with Gold Mercury's mission, values and principles.
“I am deeply honoured to receive the Gold Mercury Award for Advancing a Culture of Peace, Non-violence, and Environmental Stewardship, symbolising our shared commitment to a more compassionate and sustainable world. This recognition reminds us of our collective responsibility to foster understanding, wisdom, and environmental harmony. My heartfelt thanks to Gold Mercury International for their dedication to these universal values.”
His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, The 14th Dalai Lama
Gold Mercury Award 2025
“The Section of International Relations of the Communist Party of the USSR aims to develop international cooperation in commerce, cultural connections, science, and technology. By receiving the Gold Mercury Award, I want to assure you that the Soviet Union will relentlessly continue this particular course of action in the interests of the Soviet people and our partners and in the name of strengthening peace worldwide.”
Leonid Brezhnev, Leader of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
GOLD MERCURY AWARD - GLOBAL RESOURCES
The initials ‘CGIAR’ might not mean much to you—but this global organisation is vital to feeding the future of humanity.
No institution has contributed more to feeding our world than CGIAR—an achievement we recognised with the Gold Mercury Award in 2006.
Join the Gold Mercury International Community
If you believe that visioneering the future can shape a greater present, you belong with us!
