James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. has always put human rights, equality, ethnic and racial reconciliation, peace, and social harmony on the highest priority and spared no effort in promoting them. Since 1980, Mr Carter and The Carter Center have consistently been at the forefront of the protection of human rights; the promotion of democracy; the mediation, resolution and prevention of conflicts (for example, in Haiti, Bosnia, Ethiopia, North Korea, Sudan and other countries); the promotion of gender and racial equality; and the support of free and fair elections through impartial monitoring all over the world.

Mr Carter also has a noble vision to alleviate and reduce human suffering. He and The Carter Center have worked to improve global health conditions through the successful control and eradication of diseases such as Guinea worm disease, river blindness, malaria, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis; and through the provision of better care for and the reduction of the social stigma of mental illnesses. Mr Carter believes that people can be empowered through knowledge and skills. Again working through The Carter Center, African farmers were taught new farming techniques that increase their crop production, so that they can in turn improve their own nutrition and be able to live a fuller and richer life.

In addition, since 1984, Mr Carter has been the highest-profile supporter of the Habitat for Humanity project, which is devoted to building “simple, decent, and affordable” housing for underprivileged people all over the world.