The ceremony took place at the inauguration of the International Conference of Jurists at the Vigyan Bhawan under the distinguished patronage of Indian Vice-President M. Hamid Ansari. Under the theme International Terrorism, the event was jointly organised by the International Council of Jurists, the National Human Rights Commission of India, the All India Bar Association and Indian Council of Jurists.

In a welcoming speech Dr Adish C. Aggarwala, president of the International Council of Jurists and chairman of the bar association, said the award for Mr Mancham was to recognise his role in promoting world peace and the pivotal part he has played in helping to settle international disputes.

“He is a visionary statesman who has influenced many world leaders with his contemporary philosophy and outlook,” said Dr Aggarwala.

The other major recipients were Baron Igor Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, for his outstanding contribution to fair and efficient administration of justice; Ragunath Kesavan, president of the Malaysian Bar Council, for his enormous service to the council and his deep involvement and conscientious engagement in maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics; and Professor Shimon Shetreet, professor of international and public law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for maintaining the highest standards of legal education.

The event was attended by over 1,500 members of the legal fraternity and diplomats including Dick Esparon, Seychelles’ high commissioner to India, and Jean-Claude Adrienne, first secretary at the Seychelles High Commission in Delhi.

At a press conference after the event, Mr Mancham said he felt both proud and humbled to have been so singularly selected for the great accolade.

“I believe it is an occasion which should make the people of Seychelles proud because it demonstrates once more that while our country may be small, it does not follow that we are lost or small-minded. In fact we must continue to aim for the sky to get above the trees,” he stressed. 

Mr Mancham left Delhi for Lucknow to take part as a special guest in the 11th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, which is hosted by the City Montessori School in Lucknow under the management of its world-renowned founder Dr Jagdish Gandhi. The aim of the conference is to promote Article 51 of the Constitution of India, which proclaims that the state shall strive to promote international peace and security; maintain just and honourable relations between nations; foster respect for international law; and encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration.

Mr Mancham will return to Seychelles on Saturday December 18.