Nobel Peace Prize

Yesterday I watched and listened to an inspiring conversation with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and World Economic Forum Founder Klaus Schwab . Some quotes from yesterdays conversation moved me to post these photographs from the 2011 Nobel Peace Award in Oslo, Norway. The courageous, bold, and unstoppable efforts of these women, have indeed made their impact. The Archbishop mentioned them in their conversation yesterday.Some of his quotes I found compelling were: “We have excluded people for a very long time (pause) Women!” Then he went on to say, “we won’t make it without them.”

I was tickled that he mentioned the film that chronicles the life and peace building movement of Leymah Gbowee, in the film “Pray the Devil Back to Hell.”

His comments reminded me of a remark made by Tawakkol Karman during the Women Peace and Security panel discussion , “A bird needs two wings to fly,” she said – explaining that men too must help women to fly. We cannot do it without their assistance. Each of these comments is in support of the other.

The link to the Archbishop Tutu and Schwab conversation may be found here at 1 hour and six minutes, after the opening address by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Crystal Award presentations.

While to some it may seem that a call to action on behalf of women may be a throwback from the past or an outdated feminist cry. Whatever your position, I encourage you to visit here and here.

You might also be interested in the interview with Billy Moyers and Leymah Gbowee

2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates , center Tawakkol Karman of Yemen, (r) President Ellen Jonson Sirleaf of Liberia and Leymah Gbowee, also of Liberia are greeted by dignitaries of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee to the official awards ceremony in Oslo, Norway on Saturday December 10, 2011. The three women were honored and awarded by the Committee " were awarded "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work"

2011 Nobel Peace Prize co-recipient Leymah Gbowee during the film screening of "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" at the Vika Theatre in Oslo, Norway on Friday December 09, 2011. The film chronicles the life of Gbowee, a Social Worker by profession, who led the Women's Peace Movement in Liberia.

"Pray the Devil Back to Hell" Producer and Philanthropist Abigail Disney, and film director Gini Reticker during a Q & A of their film screening at the Vika Theater, in Oslo,Norway, Friday December 09, 2011.

Sanam Naraghi-Anderlini is a leading international advocate, writer, researcher and trainer in the field of women in conflict, conflict resolution and peace-building. In 2000 she co-drafted UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and was appointed to the Civil Society Advisory Group on resolution 1325, chaired by Mary Robinson. Resolution 1325 was ,unanimously adopted on October 31st, 2000, called for the respect of women's and children's rights and their inclusion in conflict resolution, peace negotiations, and peace building in conflict zones, resettlement and/or repatriation. Ms. Anderlini is the co-founder of ICAN, an American NGO based in Washington D.C. She is also the author of "Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why It Matters." http://www.icanpeacework.org/

Harriette Williams, an Advocacy Officer at Femmes Africa Solidarité during the panel discussion on Women, Peace and Security at the Det Norske Theater, December 11, 2011 in Oslo, Norway.

This post I dedicate to the memory of my mother whose roaring support for the rights and protection of women, burns in my heart daily. Her constant love and support is with me always.