Dr Katarina Kruhonja is a peace activist working at the Centre for Peace, Non Violence and Human Rights NGO in Osijek. In 1996,she retired as a medical doctor to join the post-war peacebuilding efforts, coordinating multi-ethnic peace teams which were supporting a processes of peaceful integration in Eastern Slavonia.

Mr Jerome Gama Surur is the former state deputy governor of Eastern Equatoria, South Sudan. He played an important role in aiding internally displaced persons in the conflict in South Sudan and is an advocate of equal rights for all. He published his book about the role of humanitarian organizations in development of the young nation titled, ‘Reaping without Sowing’.

Mr Wim Deetman is a retired Dutch politician and the former mayor of the Hague, the international city of peace and justice and will be joining the jury of the UCLG Peace Prize for the second time. He contributed to the decision of the international tribunal of the International Criminal Court being seated in the Hague. Mr Deetman is also former chair of the UCLG Committee on City Diplomacy, Peace building en Human Rights.

Prof. Thulisile Nomkhosi “Thuli” Madonsela is a South African advocate and Professor of law, holding a chair in social justice at Stellenbosch University. She served as the Public Protector of South Africa and helped draft the final constitution of South Africa promulgated by Nelson Mandela.

Dr Kupusović was the Lord Mayor of Sarajevo during the second half of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the siege of Sarajevo (1994-96). As President of the country’s Association of Towns and Cities he has established close relations with many cities and mayors of the world to restore the workings of local autonomous government in his country’s devastated cities. He was also on the jury of the first edition of the UCLG Peace Prize.

Prof. Dr. Janne Nijman is the chairperson of the Executive Board and Academic Director of the Asser Institute. She also serves as Professor of History and Theory of International law at the University of Amsterdam and Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva. Nijman is a member of the Supervisory Board of PAX for Peace and an internationally leading author on cities and international law and governance.