NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organization dedicated to religious freedom, human rights and tolerance, and its president and founder Rabbi Arthur Schneier, presented the 2016 World Statesman Award to French President, Francois Hollande at the 51^st Annual Appeal of Conscience Awards Dinner held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York on Monday evening.

Rabbi Arthur Schneier presented President Hollande with the award and said that the French President was "recognized for his leadership in safeguarding democracy and freedom in a time of terrorist violence and for his contribution to global stability and security."

"Carlos Slim Helu was honored as a visionary business leader with a sense of social responsibility. His philanthropic and humanitarian activities in health and education have contributed to international cooperation and the improvement of the quality of life for generations," said Rabbi Arthur Schneier.

Rabbi Schneier said the Appeal of Conscience Foundation honored Andrew N. Liveris for his role as "An innovative and visionary business executive, recognized for his leadership, ongoing philanthropy and passionate advocacy for international corporations to use their resources and vast reach across boundaries to better serve the global community."

The World Statesman Award honors leaders who support peace, prosperity and freedom by promoting tolerance, human dignity and human rights by championing these causes in their homeland and working with other world leaders to build a better future for all.

Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, 1999 World Statesman honoree, delivered an address and the laudation at the Awards Dinner.

The invocation was delivered by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and the benediction by Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of Greek Orthodox Church. Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of News Corporation, Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman and CEO of Blackstone, and Jerry Speyer, Chairman of Tishman Speyer, are the Chairs of this event.

The international event brought together over 800 prominent leaders of business, religious and public life, foreign statesmen and the diplomatic corps in support of the global interfaith activities on behalf of religious freedom, human rights and tolerance for over half a century.

Past recipients of the World Statesman Award include:
German Chancellor, Angela Merkel; Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto; and former Prime Ministers, Presidents and Crowned Royalty including: Margaret Thatcher, Gordon Brown and David Cameron of the United Kingdom; Canadian Prime Ministers, Stephen Harper and Jean Chrétien, South Korean President, Lee Myung-bak; Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh; French President, Nicolas Sarkozy;  Brazilian Presidents, Henrique Cardoso and  Ignacio Lula da Silva; Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi; Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson;  Australian Prime Minister, John Howard; King of Spain, Juan Carlos I; President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev; and President of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel.

About the Appeal of Conscience Foundation:
The Appeal of Conscience Foundation, under the leadership of Rabbi Arthur Schneier, has worked worldwide on behalf of religious freedom, human rights, peace and tolerance since 1965. To uphold the principle "live and let live" is the Appeal of Conscience Foundation's continuing goal. An interfaith coalition of business, religious and foreign policy leaders, this international organization promotes mutual understanding, peace and interreligious cooperation and provides a voice of conscience to protect minorities.  The Appeal of Conscience Foundation believes that freedom, democracy and human rights are fundamental values that give nations of the world their best hope for peace, security and shared prosperity. www.appealofconscience.org

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SOURCE The Appeal of Conscience Foundation

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http://www.appealofconscience.org