Nobel Women’s Initiative is led by seven women Nobel Peace Prize laureates - Jody Williams (USA), Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Guatemala), Maria Ressa (Philippines) and Narges Mohammadi (Iran). Women are crucial to lasting peace, and yet in times of war and conflict they are seen as victims, and too often excluded from formal peace-building processes. The laureates know the importance of women peacebuilders, and the challenges they face firsthand. At NWI they work together to use the platform and access that the Nobel Peace Prize offers to elevate the voices and support the work of women peace activists.
Through our work, we aim to achieve three key outcomes:
Outcome 1: Women Leading Peace Together
Collective power of women’s movement and feminist peace leadership is bolder
“Investing in women’s leadership is the way we are going to change a world from one of conflict and violence to one of peace and hope.” — Leymah Gbowee.
Outcome 2: Women Influencing Change
Decision-makers recognize and center the priorities of women activists in strategies and policies.
“It is women who will open the gates to democracy.” — Dr Shirin Ebadi.
Outcome 3: Women Shifting Media Narrative
Women activists and their solutions for peace are more represented in media, transforming dominant narratives
“Gendered disinformation is a massive security threat, and the first step to the downfall of democracies.” — Maria Ressa.