Nobel Women's Initiative laureates Join Cross-Discipline Nobel Laureate Appeal for Transfer of Russian Sanctioned State Assets for Ukraine's Recovery and Compensation.
22 January 2025
Away from the global spotlight, the security situation in Goma and the Eastern DRC has escalated over recent days. The Rwandan backed M23 and other militia groups have seized additional land, displacing more people and worsening the already difficult situation in displacement camps and among host families, as well as raising concerns of an impending hunger crisis.
An extraordinary online meeting brought together eight women Nobel Peace Laureates in celebration of the work and resilience of Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who is temporarily released from Tehran’s Evin prison on a 21-day suspended sentence for medical reasons. With less than a week remaining before her expected return to prison, this moment served as a poignant reminder of the urgency of securing her permanent freedom.
Japanese grassroots organization Nihon Hidankyo was named the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize laureate in Oslo, Norway today “for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again”.
On 10 October, 2024, the UN General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, which deals with matters of international law, will hold a critical debate on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. Crimes against humanity include murder, the use of rape and sexual violence as a weapon, torture, enslavement, forced transfer, imprisonment and other inhumane acts committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population. While these are widely recognized in customary international law, and certain legal texts such as the Rome Statute, there is no international treaty explicitly tackling crimes against humanity.
Solidarity Statement from Nobel Women’s Initiative
Berta Cáceres, renowned Lenca indigenous leader and defender, fought for the rights of indigenous people in Honduras. She defended land, rivers and nature from exploitative industries while also advocating for the rights of the most marginalized people in Mesoamerica. For this, she was assassinated. Nobel Women’s Initiative stands with local activists continuing to demand justice for Berta.
Between 30 June and 2 July, 2024, the UN held the third round of Doha meetings on Afghanistan. Representatives from over 25 countries and the Taliban were present. However, at the Taliban’s request, Afghan women and civil society were excluded from official meetings.
On 18 June, 2023, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Iranian women’s and human rights activist Narges Mohammadi was sentenced to an additional year in Iran’s notorious Evin prison for alleged propaganda activities against the regime.
A letter from Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi to Dennis Francis, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations.
For almost three decades, the DRC has been embroiled in a complicated conflict. Over 6 million people have been killed and 7 million displaced. On Friday, 3 May 2024, camps for displaced people in Goma, North Kivu province were targeted in twin bomb attacks, killing 35 people and injuring many more. The situation is rapidly deteriorating, and for women in particular, no place is safe.
Overshadowed by escalating conflict in the Middle East, Iran has intensified its use of capital punishment against political and human rights activists and opponents of the Islamic Republic’s Regime. On average, one person a day is executed in Iran on trumped up drug-related or vague religious infringement charges.
Away from the global spotlight, a humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since 1996, the country has been embroiled in a complicated conflict, which is yet again escalating.