Since the establishment of the Nobel Peace Prize, several remarkable women have been recognized for their exceptional contributions to peace, showing the world that, even amidst conflict, they are indispensable agents of transformation.
The first woman awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Bertha von Suttner in 1905. An Austrian writer and activist, she was a pioneer of the pacifist movement and directly influenced the creation of the prize itself. Decades later, in 1976, Mairead Corrigan from Northern Ireland received the Nobel for her work in reconciliation during the conflict between Catholics and Protestants, leading a movement that brought hope to her nation.
In 1982, Alva Reimer Myrdal, a Swedish diplomat, was honored for her tireless negotiations on disarmament at the United Nations, demonstrating that diplomacy is an essential path to preventing armed conflicts. In 2004, Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan environmentalist and activist, became the first Black African woman to receive the prize. Her innovative work connected environmental sustainability, social justice, and peace, inspiring communities across Africa and beyond.
More recently, in 2023, Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian activist, was awarded the Nobel for her fight for women’s rights in Iran, facing severe repression to ensure justice and dignity for women in her country. Her courage echoes the strength of women who, even in adversity, continue to fight for peace.
These laureates join other transformative women like Malala Yousafzai, who received the prize in 2014 and dedicated her life to advocating for girls’ education in conflict zones, and Leymah Gbowee, who was awarded in 2011 for leading women’s peace movements in Liberia, helping to end a devastating civil war.
The W20 Brazil recognizes that the inclusion of women in peace processes is not only a matter of justice but of effectiveness. Data shows that peace agreements involving women are up to 35%* more likely to last. However, female representation remains insufficient: between 1992 and 2019, only 6% of global peace agreement signatories were women.
On January 1, 2024, we draw inspiration from Bertha, Mairead, Alva, Wangari, Narges, Malala, and Leymah – women who have dedicated their lives to transforming the world into a fairer place. The W20 reaffirms its commitment to public policies that ensure women’s participation in peace negotiations and reconstruction processes. Where there are women, there is hope – and where there is equity, there is peace.
*Source: UN
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Ana Fontes
Adriana Carvalho
Adriana Rodrigues
Camila Fernandez Achutti
Janaina NL. Gama, MSc
Junia Nogueira de Sa
Kamila Camilo
Maria Jose Tonelli
Maria Rita Spina Bueno