The United Nations Association of Santa Barbara and Tri-Counties on Thursday, Oct. 3 will award the 8th Annual Santa Barbara Peace Prize to Montecito resident Jane Olson.
The award will be presented at 5 p.m. at Pascucci’s on State Street.
Created in 2017 by the United Nations of Santa Barbara, the Santa Barbara Peace Prize is awarded to individuals or organizations to recognize their work in creating peace in the world, providing humanitarian assistance, or furthering the cause of human rights.
Olson was selected for her outstanding work in documenting human rights abuses in Serbia, Nicaragua, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Ukraine, Rwanda and Uganda, to name a few.
She chaired the International Board of Trustees for Human Rights Watch, International, and served as co-chair on the Women’s Refugee Commission.
Olson has also served on the board of Direct Relief International, and helped found the Hands Across Montecito Homeless Outreach Project. She recently released her book documenting her human rights work “World Citizen: Journeys Of A Humanitarian.”
“Jane is a stellar example of why we have a United Nations Association Santa Barbara Peace Prize,” said Sharon Byrne, United Nations Association president. “She exemplifies humanitarianism with her sheer courage to put herself into situations of active human rights crises.
“She created the space and warmth to relate to survivors, encourage them to share their stories, observe, document and photograph what was happening.
“Her selfless volunteer work shined the light of scrutiny on human rights abuses happening globally, and allowed us all to deeply connect with human suffering.
“She used that same humanitarian approach in helping found the Hands Across Montecito project, and was fearless in seeking to approach those suffering homelessness, seeing them as refugees that have been displaced, and help them from that place of compassion,” Byrne said.
Barbara Gaughen-Muller, United Nations Association vice president, interviewed Olson for her Peace Podcast last week, which is listened to around the world.
To view the interview, visit https://peacepodcast.org/jane-olson-2024-unasb-peace-prize-awardee-humanitarian-world-citizen-photo-journalist-author/.
The United Nations Association of Santa Barbara, which is the oldest in the U.S., having been formed in 1947, brings the work of the United Nations to the community, and the concerns of the community to the UN.
The local chapter has worked on issues of concern locally and globally, such as human trafficking, women’s rights, youth violence, climate change, conflict, and refugees.
Official recognition will also be presented by Rep. Salud Carbajal, state Sen. Monique Limon, county Supervisor Das Williams, and Santa Barbara City Councilmember Kristen Sneddon to honor Olson winning the Santa Barbara Peace Prize for 2024.