Three Women’s Rights Activists Win the Nobel Peace Prize
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October 7, 2011 TheFreshOutlook  |
Three women in Africa and the Middle East to share 2011 Nobel Peace Prize after campaigning for democracy and peace.
Liberian President Elle Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee and Yemeni rights campaigner Tawakkul Karman were awarded with the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
The three women’s rights activists were recognised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for their “nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work”.
Harvard-educated economist, Ms Elle Johnson Sirleaf, was described by the committee as “Africa’s first democratically elected female president”, who has “contributed to securing peace in Liberia, to promoting economic and social development, and to strengthening the position of women”.
According to Mr Thorbjon Jagland, head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, it is vital that women are not pushed aside in the establishment of new democracies.
“This is the most important issue in the Arab world — namely the oppression of women. Therefore we are giving the signal that if one is to succeed with efforts to make democracy, one has to include the women and not set them aside,” he said.
According to Dr Yemisi Akinbobola, editor in chief of IQ4 News, an international platform for news about Africa, the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to these three activists is to be recognised as an enormous success for women’s rights activists around the world.
“The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to these three admirable women is an enormous success for all women rights activists in Africa and indeed around the world. With the recent rape case of a student at Abia State University, Nigeria, and the subsequent uproar via social media, and lack of adequate action by the Nigerian authorities, such recognition for women rights and pioneers like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is encouraging and will perhaps give greater exposure to the injustices experienced by women on the continent,” Dr Akinbobola said.
“Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first democratically elected female President. Her award will hopefully mean that more women will have the confidence and support to run for presidency in their countries,” Dr Akinbobola added.
By Rosaria Sgueglia
[Image courtesy of jamieca]
Women all over the world should be proud for these three!