The European Democrat Students congratulate Liberias President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Liberian peace activist Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman from Jemen on winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
The winners of the Nobel Peace Prize were announced in Oslo today, and was awarded to three women who have fought for human rights in Liberia and Yemen.
They were recognised for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work". Announcing the prize in Oslo, Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said: "We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women achieve the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society."
- This prize is important, and acknowledges the work these three women have done. As Liberia and Africas first female President, giving the award to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is an important symbol of peace worldwide, says EDS Chairman Juraj Antal.
Mrs Karman heads the Yemeni organisation Women Journalists without Chains and has been jailed several times over her campaigns for press freedom and her opposition to the government of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. She is the first Arab women to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
-I hope that the Peace Prize winners can be an inspiration for peace and democracy. After fighting for democracy in Europe and achieving it, we now too often take it for granted. The Peace Prize reminds us that we still have to fight for it. We hope the Nobel Peace Prize will help to spread democracy to other parts of the world. The Arab spring has shown that there is hope for a more democratic world.
EDS is a member association of