Nobel Peace Prize

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Dalai Lama and Bishop Tutu. Carey Linde

Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATES FOR 1994 IN OSLO.

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Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes created by the Swedish industrialist, inventor, and armaments manufacturer Alfred Nobel, along with the prizes in Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature. Since March 1901, it has been awarded annually (with some exceptions) to those who have "done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."

Origins

The Nobel Peace Prize's origins are found in Alfred Nobel's will, which stipulated that his fortune was to be used to create a series of prizes for those who confer the "greatest benefit on mankind" in the fields mentioned above. The Peace Prize is notably distinct in that it is awarded not by a Swedish institution but by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a 5-member committee appointed by the Parliament of Norway. According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize is to be awarded to the person who:

...shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.

— Alfred Nobel

Selection Process

The selection process for the Nobel Peace Prize is rigorously confidential. Nominations can only be made by a select group of people, including national politicians, international judges, university rectors, professors of social science, history, philosophy, law and theology; and previous laureates. Nominations must be submitted to the Norwegian Nobel Committee by the beginning of February of the award year.

Award Ceremony

The Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony takes place on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death, in Oslo, Norway. Unlike the other Nobel Prizes, which are presented in Stockholm, Sweden, the Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo in accordance with Nobel's wishes. The prize consists of a medal, a diploma, and a monetary award.

Notable Laureates

Over the years, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to a diverse group of individuals and organizations. Some notable laureates include:

- Martin Luther King Jr., awarded in 1964 for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the African American population in the United States. - Mother Teresa, awarded in 1979 for her work in overcoming poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace. - Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk, awarded jointly in 1993 for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa. - Malala Yousafzai, awarded in 2014 for her struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education.

Controversies

The Nobel Peace Prize has been subject to controversies and criticisms over the years. Some selections have been criticized for being politically motivated, for honoring individuals or organizations perceived as having contributed to conflict rather than resolving it, or for premature recognition of efforts that have not yet resulted in lasting peace.

Conclusion

The Nobel Peace Prize remains one of the most prestigious and significant awards in the world, recognizing the efforts and achievements of individuals and organizations striving for peace and conflict resolution. Despite controversies, it continues to highlight the importance of peace and the ongoing struggle to achieve it.