The purpose of the Prize is to distinguish the efforts of a person, group of people or international institution that have contributed to the development of knowledge and society through art, teaching and research in the social sciences and humanities. It is aimed at promoting pioneering initiatives that can contribute to the development, dissemination and consolidation of the values of humanity.
The great contribution of the Casa is its contribution to a better world, not only through its links with intellectuals of the region, but also because of its close links with institutions and organizations such as UNESCO, with which Cuba is celebrating a 70 year long relationship.
The Prize is named after the eminent poet, novelist, essayist and Mexican diplomat Jaime Torres Bodet, who was one of the founding members of UNESCO and general director of the organization from 1948 to 1952.
Nelson Mandela and Casa de las Américas share the honor of being the only laureates with two UNESCO awards. Mandela received the Unesco Simón Bolívar Prize in 1983 and the Unesco Prize for Peace Félix Houphouët-Boigny in 1991, while the Casa was awarded the Simón Bolívar Unesco Prize in 2004.
Link to original report in Spanish
Casa de las Americas
A powerhouse of Cuban and Latin American culture set up by revolutionary and Moncada survivor Haydee Santamaría in 1959, offering conferences, exhibitions, a gallery, a bookstore, concerts and an atmosphere of erudite intellectualism. The Casa's annual literary award is one of the Spanish-speaking world's most prestigious. http://www.casadelasamericas.org/
Cuba 50 