Women Are Peacebuilders

On December 9, 2011, Nobel Peace Prize Winners President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, peace activist Leymah Gbowee, also of Liberia, and pro-democracy campaigner Tawakul Karman of Yemen were awarded their Nobel Peace Prizes in Oslo, Norway.

The three recipients were eloquent but forthright about the urgency of their work to build more peaceful societies. Their remarks reflected their indomitable spirits and belief that seemingly “powerless” women could determine the direction of the countries. "We must continue to unite in sisterhood to turn our tears into triumph, our despair into determination and our fear into fortitude," said Ms. Gbowee. "There is no time to rest until our world achieves wholeness and balance, where all men and women are considered equal and free."

Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, was unequivocal in expressing the Committee’s belief that the governments who sought to oppress their citizens—and deny women their human rights—were on the wrong side of history. Speaking before the ceremony, Mr Jagland told the winners, “You represent one of the most important motive forces for change in today's world, the struggle for human rights in general and the struggle of women for equality and peace in particular.”