Tag Archives: Nobel Prize

Nobel Peace Prize

Nobel Peace Prize

One of the 5 Nobel Prizes established by Swedish armaments manufacturer, inventor, and industrialist, Alfred Nobel, was called the Nobel Peace Prize. Since the early 90’s, this prize has been awarded by a 5-member Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo City Hall, on 10th December every year (the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death).

Who Is the Nobel Peace Prize Awarded To?

Since December of 1901 (119 years ago), the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded on an annual basis (with a few exceptions) to those who have done the most or the best work that inspired togetherness between nations.

In addition to this, this prestigious award is also deserved by those who helped reduce or abolish standing armies while promoting or holding peace congresses. Of course, due to the political nature of this prize, most awards granted throughout history were subject to numerous controversies.

How Are the Nobel Peace Prize Winners Nominated?

In the words of Alfred Nobel, the Peace Prize will be awarded to people 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”.

Since World War 2, the Nobel Peace Prize has been exclusively reserved for four main areas of honor:

  • Efforts related to human rights and democracy
  • Peace negotiations
  • Arms control and disarmament
  • Efforts that are aimed towards creating a more peaceful and better organized world

Bonus: For 2020, there are 318 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize of which 107 are organizations and 211 individuals. 318 nominations also happen to be the 4th highest number of candidates ever. The record for highest number of candidates was set in 2016 to as high as 376 candidates.

The names of the nominees and nominators, except the winner’s, are not revealed until 50 years have elapsed since the award.

Some of the Most Well-Known Winners in History

  • 2017: The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
  • 2013: Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
  • 2012: The European Union
  • 2009: Barack H. Obama
  • 2001: Kofi Annan
  • 1994: Yasser Arafat
  • 1993: Nelson Mandela
  • 1988: The United Nations Peace-Keeping Forces
  • 1984: Desmond Tutu
  • 1979: Mother Teresa