On September 27, 2014, the Muhammad Ali Center presented the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award for Conviction to a youth from our partner organization ACOOC in Colombia. The Center awards this prize annually to young people for their outstanding social commitment.
Mario Andrés Hurtado Cardozo of our partner organization ACOOC (Aid for Conscientious Objectors in Colombia) was presented with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award in Louisville (Kentucky, USA) on 27 September 2014. The award was presented to him on behalf of his and ACOOC's commitment to the right to conscientious objection in one of the most militarized countries in the world. In addition, ACOOC promotes peace and social justice in a life-affirming, creative and non-violent way, according to the award winners.
Conscientious objection needs a strong conviction
Mario Cardozo was one of six young people who each received an award for the six core principles of Muhammad Ali: Trust, conviction, devotion, generosity, respect and spirituality. The conscientious objector Cardozo received the prize for the core principle of conviction, because conscientious objectors in Colombia usually have to face serious consequences: they go through a very difficult and psychologically stressful process and it becomes almost impossible for them to get a place at university or a job.
Muhammad Ali a former conscientious objector
How important the work of ACOOC in Colombia is, Muhamma Ali can assess from his own experience. He refused military service during the Vietnam war on religious grounds. As his refusal was not recognised, Ali was arrested and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of USD 10,000. Later the sentence was changed by the US Supreme Court. His passport was confiscated and he was not given a boxing licence for three years. (Source: Wikipedia)
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