On March 6, 2025, the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution (CJCR) presented the24th International Advocate for Peace (IAP) Award to Zafra Lerman, President of the Malta Conferences Foundation, scientist, educator, and humanitarian.
Lerman was recognized for her efforts in promoting peace by bringing together scientists from 15 otherwise hostile countries in the Middle East. Through the Malta Conferences Foundation, she has facilitated vital international collaboration on pressing issues such as air and water quality, alternative energy sources, and science education. Her work has created opportunities for dialogue and innovation, bridging divides and uniting communities through shared scientific goals. From her groundbreaking efforts to build an innovative science curriculum to her activism and human rights work on behalf of the global scientific community, Lerman aims to “create a chain reaction for peace.”
In addition to her leadership at the Malta Conferences Foundation, Lerman has served as Chair of the American Chemical Society’s Subcommittee on Scientific Freedom and Human Rights and has worked on human rights cases worldwide, including in Russia, South Africa, and Iran. Lerman has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times (2018–2021, 2023). Her 2024 book, Human Rights and Peace: A Personal Odyssey, chronicles her life as a scientist, activist, and visionary peacemaker.
The event included remarks by Vice Dean Felix Wu, followed by a fireside chat between Lerman and Kukin Program Director Professor Andrea Schneider, and the award presentation by CJCR Editor-in-Chief, Armando Gonzales ‘25. The award ceremony was followed by a cocktail reception, where Lerman signed copies of her book, and mixed with attendees.
The International Advocate for Peace Award honors individuals and organizations exemplary in conflict resolution. Lerman joins a prestigious list of past honorees, including President Bill Clinton, President Jimmy Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Leymah Gbowee, Gloria Steinem, and Sir Paul McCartney. The Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, home to one of the nation’s leading dispute resolution programs, is proud to celebrate Lerman’s achievements as a shining example of how science and dialogue can bridge divides and build lasting peace. For more information on the IAP Award and past recipients, click here.