<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) held the Ibero-American Development Cooperation Awards on June 19th, which were presented to more than twenty personalities and institutions from thirteen Ibero-American countries.</strong></h4> The awards, which took place in the Auditorium of the Ortega-Marañón Foundation in Madrid, recognize individuals and institutions for their outstanding careers and commitment to the development of the region in key areas such as education, science, culture, human rights, and regional integration. In this first edition of the awards, more than twenty personalities and institutions from thirteen Ibero-American countries were recognized. Eight awardees representing Argentina and Spain were present at the ceremony to receive their medals and certificates: In the Education and Vocational Training category, Gerardo Martínez, Secretary General of the UOCRA, was recognized for his sustained work in worker training and his promotion of training as a driver of labor inclusion. The Entreculturas – Fe y Alegría Foundation, represented by its director Martín Iriberri, also received the award for its transformative educational work in highly vulnerable contexts through community projects. In the Higher Education category, the Ortega-Marañón Foundation, host of the ceremony and represented by its director Lucía Sala, was recognized for its outstanding academic work, its promotion of humanistic culture, and its close relationship with Latin America throughout its history. In the Education and Productivity category, José Urtubey, lawyer and director of Celulosa Argentina, was recognized for his commitment to the coordination between the private sector and technical education as a path toward more equitable development; and Marcelo Figueiras, president of the Richmond Laboratory, for their promotion of innovation, national production, and the strengthening of the relationship between science, education, and business. In the category of Education in Human Rights, Democracy, and Equality, Father Ignacio "Nacho" Bagattini was recognized for his career in defending human rights and his work with vulnerable communities, promoting educational and social inclusion. In the Regional Cooperation category, awards were given to Christian Asinelli, Vice President of Strategic Programming at the Latin American Development Bank (CAF), for his key role in planning regional public integration policies; and to Amador Sánchez Rico, diplomat and current European Union ambassador to Argentina, for his sustained work in strengthening dialogue and cooperation between Latin America and Europe. The ceremony was attended by the Secretary General of the OEI, Mariano Jabonero, who emphasized that this award seeks to "recognize those who have contributed to this process of positively building the OEI in regional cooperation, because this cannot be done alone." Also present were the Secretary General of the SEGIB, Andrés Allamand, and the Secretary of State for Education of Spain, Abelardo de la Rosa. The ceremony featured a highlight with the awarding of the decoration to Emilce Cuda, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America of the Holy See, in recognition of her valuable contribution to Ibero-American cooperation by strengthening ties of solidarity, joint development, and collaborative work. "With the presentation of these awards, the OEI reaffirms its commitment to cooperation as an essential tool for regional development," the organization emphasized in a press release. "The awards seek to establish themselves as a continuous institutional recognition of those who contribute with effort, creativity, and conviction to the growth of Ibero-America," it concluded.
