Press releases and Statements

Transition of Power to Legitimately Elected Candidate Must Take Place in Guatemala

October 13, 2023 

Presidential elections were held in Guatemala in the summer of 2023 with anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo being confirmed as the President elect with 58% of the vote. However, the outgoing government have refused to accept the results and are attempting to hold on to power. In response, indigenous and peasant women, urban, social and student movements have taken to the streets in peaceful protest demanding that results of the election are upheld, and a full transition of power ensured.

Narges Mohammadi Becomes 19th Woman to be Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize

Iranian women’s and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi was named the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate in Oslo, Norway today. The Nobel Committee awarded her with the prize “for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all”.  

Jody Williams calls for respect for justice and the rule of law in Guatemala

I am writing to express my grave concern over the developments occurring in Guatemala. Since the decision to terminate the mandate of Guatemala’s International Commission against Impunity (CICIG) there has been a dangerous deterioration for Guatemala, resulting in compromises of the independence of the judiciary, a cornerstone for peace and democracy.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa Joins Nobel Women’s Initiative

Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI) is excited to announce that Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa from the Philippines has joined NWI. She joins Jody Williams (USA), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Shirin Ebadi (Iran) and Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Guatemala), uniting in action together with courageous women leading peace around the world, and leveraging collective power to amplify nonviolent solutions, defend justice, and champion equality for all.

Call for Applications to 2023 Sister-to-Sister Program

The Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI) has opened applications for the 2023 Sister-to-Sister feminist peacebuilders leadership program.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED.

Dr Shirin Ebadi's Open Letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Following the murder of a young woman - Mahsa Amini - in the street by government agents, only because part of her hair was out of her scarf, the multitude of unmet demands sparked a massive movement in Iran. While this movement involved various people in the society, however the courage of women, girls, and especially high school students has been especially remarkable. The killing of several teenage girls during a peaceful demonstration fuelled the fire of people's anger and protests spread to about 100 cities in Iran.

Nigerian Election Will Impact Gender Equality and Peace

This Saturday, 25 February 2023, Nigerians head to the polls to elect a new president, Senate, and House of Representatives. The course of this election in Africa’s most populous nation, in a year when sixteen other states across the continent will also head to the polls, has crucial implications for peace, gender equality and, in turn, societies as a whole. 

Nobel Women’s Initiative Welcomes Maria Ressa’s Acquittal and Urges Action to Address Information Crisis

 

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, who was one of two recipients of the prize in 2021 for her efforts to safeguard freedom of expression and the press, was cleared of tax evasion charges by the Court of Tax Appeals in the Philippines. She faces other legal challenges, widely recognized as politically motivated, and symptomatic of a broader global attack on freedom of expression. 

Dr Shirin Ebadi Addresses UN Security Council

 

On November 2, 2022, the United States and Albania co-hosted a UN Security Council Arria Formula meeting on the ongoing protests in Iran, highlighting in particular the continuing repression of women and girls. Dr Shirin Ebadi, Iranian Human Rights Defender and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was invited to address the meeting. These are her remarks in full.

 

Nobel Women’s Initiative laureates congratulate 2022 Peace Prize winners calling for peace with justice

As the noise of militarism and war is louder than ever, the world must value the work for peace led by women and civil society organisations around the world.

An Open Letter to the People of Iran

 

On the anniversary of the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, we share this open letter written shortly after her passing and the subsequent outbreak of mass protests. The people of Iran are still fighting for regime change today. NWI stands in solidarity with them.

 

Peace laureates appalled and saddened by the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran

The 22-year-old died three days after being beaten in police custody.