In recent weeks, we have lost the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (Wangari Maathai), and we have gained in her place two more African women as Nobel Peace Laureates: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee, as well as Tawakkul Karman from nearby Yemen.
The awarding of the prize in 2004 to Wangari Maathai was a landmark event for the culture of peace (see CPNN - October 31, 2004}. For a reflection on her life, see CPNN October 3, 2011 and its discussion..
In awarding this year's Prize, the Nobel Committee specifically mentions Resolution 1325 of the UN Security Council which called for an increased role of women in peacekeeping and peace negotiations.
Readers of CPNN will know that this important resolution, adopted ten years ago, has only begun to be implemented. See CPNN August 11, 2011 and its discussion, as well as CPNN March 6, 2004 and its discussion.
It is no accident that the adoption of Resolution 1325 in 2000 was the work of Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury who, one year earlier had assured the adoption of the UN Resolution on the Culture of Peace. Although the Nobel Committee does not use the phrase "culture of peace" in their recent announcement, we may consider that the prizes to these women mark a new direction of the Nobel Prize, not so much for the ending of particular wars (the old concept of peace) but for the deep transition from the culture of war to a culture of peace.
For these and other articles, including many concerning the activities on the International Day of Peace, see below.
Note: if the photos do not show up, you may also get the bulletin at http://cpnn-world.org/bulletin/bulletin-11-10.html.
