OSLO, Norway (AP) — Africa's first democratically elected female president, a Liberian peace activist and a woman who stood up to Yemen's authoritarian regime won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their work to secure women's rights, which the prize committee described as fundamental to advancing world peace.
The 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) award was split three ways between Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, peace activist Leyma Gbowee from the same African country and democracy activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen — the first Arab woman to win the prize.
By citing Karman, the committee also appeared to be acknowledging the effects of the Arab Spring, which has challenged authoritarian regimes across the region.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored the three women "for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work."
"We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society," the prize committee said.
Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said he hoped the prize would bring more attention to rape and other violence against women as well as women's role in promoting democracy in Africa and the Arab and Muslim world.
Karman is a 32-year-old mother of three who heads the human rights group Women Journalists without Chains. She has been a leading figure in organizing protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh that kicked off in late January as part of a wave of anti-authoritarian revolts that have convulsed the Arab world.
"I am very very happy about this prize," Karman told The Associated Press. "I give the prize to the youth of revolution in Yemen and the Yemeni people."
Citing the Arab Spring alone could have been problematic for the committee. The unrest toppled authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. But Libya descended into civil war that led to NATO military intervention. Egypt and Tunisia are still in turmoil. Hardliners are holding onto power in Yemen and Syria and a Saudi-led force crushed the uprising in Bahrain, leaving an uncertain record for the Arab protest movement.
Jagland said it was difficult to find a leader of the Arab Spring revolts, especially among the many bloggers who played a role in energizing the protests, and noted that Kamran's work started before the Arab uprisings.
"Many years before the revolutions started she stood up against one of the most authoritarian and autocratic regimes in the world," he told reporters.
Liberia was ravaged by civil wars for years until 2003. The drawn-out conflict that began in 1989 left about 200,000 people dead and displaced half the country's population of 3 million. The country — created to settle freed American slaves in 1847 — is still struggling to maintain a fragile peace with the help of U.N. peacekeepers.
Sirleaf, 72, has a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University and has held top regional jobs at the World Bank, the United Nations and within the Liberian government.
In elections in 1997, she ran second to warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor, who many claimed was voted into power by a fearful electorate. Though she lost by a landslide, she rose to national prominence and earned the nickname, "Iron Lady." She went on to became Africa's first democratically elected female leader in 2005.

Source

good for them!

Boko haram and abdulmutallab wil win that award nxt yr. Believe me

Congratulations to them.

When will a Nigerian win Nobel Peace Prize? It looks like everyone is busy chasing fiat money and cowardice to aggressively challenge the status quo.

Congratulations to them!

to hell with awards

This Nobel people are beginning to loose touch with reality

Kennyblues:

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Africa's first democratically elected female president, a Liberian peace activist and a woman who stood up to Yemen's authoritarian regime won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their work to secure women's rights, which the prize committee described as fundamental to advancing world peace.
The 10 million kronor ($1.5 million) award was split three ways between Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, peace activist Leyma Gbowee from the same African country and democracy activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen — the first Arab woman to win the prize.
By citing Karman, the committee also appeared to be acknowledging the effects of the Arab Spring, which has challenged authoritarian regimes across the region.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee honored the three women "for their nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work."
"We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society," the prize committee said.
Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said he hoped the prize would bring more attention to violation and other violence against women as well as women's role in promoting democracy in Africa and the Arab and Muslim world.
Karman is a 32-year-old mother of three who heads the human rights group Women Journalists without Chains. She has been a leading figure in organizing protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh that kicked off in late January as part of a wave of anti-authoritarian revolts that have convulsed the Arab world.
"I am very very happy about this prize," Karman told The Associated Press. "I give the prize to the youth of revolution in Yemen and the Yemeni people."
Citing the Arab Spring alone could have been problematic for the committee. The unrest toppled authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya. But Libya descended into civil war that led to NATO military intervention. Egypt and Tunisia are still in turmoil. Hardliners are holding onto power in Yemen and Syria and a Saudi-led force crushed the uprising in Bahrain, leaving an uncertain record for the Arab protest movement.
Jagland said it was difficult to find a leader of the Arab Spring revolts, especially among the many bloggers who played a role in energizing the protests, and noted that Kamran's work started before the Arab uprisings.
"Many years before the revolutions started she stood up against one of the most authoritarian and autocratic regimes in the world," he told reporters.
Liberia was ravaged by civil wars for years until 2003. The drawn-out conflict that began in 1989 left about 200,000 people dead and displaced half the country's population of 3 million. The country — created to settle freed American slaves in 1847 — is still struggling to maintain a fragile peace with the help of U.N. peacekeepers.
Sirleaf, 72, has a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University and has held top regional jobs at the World Bank, the United Nations and within the Liberian government.
In elections in 1997, she ran second to warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor, who many claimed was voted into power by a fearful electorate. Though she lost by a landslide, she rose to national prominence and earned the nickname, "Iron Lady." She went on to became Africa's first democratically elected female leader in 2005.

Source

rubbish!

helen ukpabio should have won this award!
any woman who maims 100 witches per year in this day and age deserves a nobel prize!

The veracity of Nobel Prizes is becoming questionable these days! I don't know why people like Indian Ghandi, Chinua Achebe,etc are not seen as potential Nobel prize candidates?

Well, on the present prize awards in Peace to women is a bold step in encouraging them to be more engaged in peaceful processes and I think were well deserved to be given to them.

This is good especially for Sirleaf (didnt know the others before now). I just hope it has not been politicized, its just 4 days to her re-election. I'm sure she would have an overwhelming victory this time.
I thought the award would be connected to the resolution of the crisis in Egypt, Algeria, Ivory Coast,  Don't see what significant thing Sirleaf did this year toward peace, seems like a long deserved award (maybe 3/4 yrs ago). Anyway, congratulations to her and the others.

the first and last time a Nigerian cling such prize was in 1985 when prof. Wole Soyinka claim his Nobel price for literature.I begin to doubt the credibility of such prices when the likes of Chinua Achebe are not acknowledged.

chidonzone:

the first and last time a Nigerian cling such prize was in 1985 when prof. Wole Soyinka claim his Nobel price for literature.I begin to doubt the credibility of such prices when the likes of Chinua Achebe are not acknowledged.

all4naija:

The veracity of Nobel Prizes is becoming questionable these days! I don't know why people like Indian Ghandi, Chinua Achebe,etc are not seen as potential Nobel prize candidates?

Well, on the present prize awards in Peace to women is a bold step in encouraging them to be more engaged in peaceful processes and I think were well deserved to be given to them.

Though not here to hold brief for the Nobel Committee, the Committee distributes nomination forms to some selected individuals who in turn nominate candidates for the prize in the six categories. Someone just nominated someone and gbam, you get the prize. Tawakkul Karman even said she did not knew she was nominated for the prize until they announce her as a co-winner. If Chinua Achebe has not made the prize, the problem is not with the organizers. Like Grassroot said, some people got the award for what they have done so many years ago and who can tell if Chinua Achebe will clinch the prize few years to come.

If we are all given forms to nominate people for CFR, some people will start to wonder how come we didn't nominate Mr ABC who has served Nigeria meritoriously.

Congratulations to the trio.

Congratulations to President Sirleaf. I have always admired the woman. Kinda have a crush,

^^^^
I think she is too old for ya! Just[b] vamoose[/b]!

Another act of desecration in thoughts

Africa again! love it.
Sad though happening on the same day a requiem mass was held for the former peace laureate Wangari Maathai. The first black woman to receive it.
She's being cremated tomorrow and will be given a state funeral.

Fantastic.

For Karman, a well deserved award. Few women would be so very motivated in the face of an unyieding tyranny back by the billions that Al Saud is ready to pump into the fray just to maintain Saleh in power. Am proud to have tipped her as an outstanding character, long before the prize committee came aboard.

Gbenge 77:

Fantastic.

^^^^^

"SMH" u need to wake up and stop being Ignorant,

pendo89:

Africa again! love it.
Sad though happening on the same day a requiem mass was held for the former peace laureate Wangari Maathai. The first black woman to receive it.
She's being cremated tomorrow and will be given a state funeral.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Garbaage, they are rewarding her for securing Liberia's resources for western Corporate Interest!!!

ideylaff:

I don't even understand the criteria for nomination and finally winning it these days,

IN 2009, the Obama one was a shock to me as well what was that one for, (4 sending more troops out to get killed in no mans land)

The peace Prize side of the Nobel awards is becoming a populist award lately

I won't be surprised if Good luck Woenathan wins it next year

^^^^^^^^^^^^

It all Bullsh*** dont even bother!!!

Mr--Why:

Congratulations to them.

When will a Nigerian win Nobel Peace Prize? It looks like everyone is busy chasing fiat money and cowardice to aggressively challenge the status quo.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

When you get a leader that finally sells out your country,

sylve11:

good for them!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I pity you,

Good job Ellen!
Nigerian woman can never win this kind of award lai lai!
Too busy looking/dying for peh-nis!