Nobel Peace Prize: For the first time in its history, the prize is awarded to journalists

Organizations such as Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists have always been shortlisted for the award.

And speculation that preceded the announcement of the award suggested that it would be awarded to activists or organizations working against global warming.

It is not yet certain that the health situation in the world will allow this year’s Nobel laureates to go to Oslo to receive the award.

The award, which consists of a certificate and a check of ten million crowns (about one million dollars), is traditionally awarded on the 10th of December, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel (1833-1896).

After the Peace Prize, which is the only one awarded in the Norwegian capital, the Nobel season will return to Stockholm to award the economics prize on Monday.

In 2012, Maria Ressa, 58, co-founded the digital investigative journalism platform Rappler, which highlighted “the (Filipino President Rodrigo) Duterte regime’s controversial and bloody anti-drug campaign,” the Nobel Committee said.

Giving the Nobel Peace Prize to journalists proves that “nothing is possible without facts,” Ressa said. “A world without facts means a world without truth and without trust,” she added in an interview broadcast live on her investigative media website.

Dmitriy Muratov, 59, is one of the founders and editor-in-chief of the Novaya Gazeta newspaper. Novaya Gazeta is one of the few voices that remain independent in Russia, where the opposition faces significant repression.

The newspaper revealed, in particular, “corruption, police violence, illegal arrests, electoral fraud and phishing sites and paid a heavy price,” according to the committee, which explained that six of its journalists lost their lives, including Anna Politkovskaya, who was killed 15 years ago.

Muratov announced that he dedicates the award to the newspaper and to his associates who were killed because of their work and investigations. “I don’t deserve this on my own,” he said. “It’s a privilege for Nova Gazzetta and for those who died defending people’s right to freedom of expression.”

He added, “Since they are not with us, I (the Nobel Committee) clearly decided to tell everyone (…) Here’s the truth, it’s for them,” explaining that “he could not answer the phone when he received the call from the Nobel Committee because he was working and did not have time.” To read the text of the advertisement.

For its part, the Kremlin congratulated Muratov, whom it described as “courageous and talented”.

After the award was announced to journalists, Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Christophe Deloire confirmed, “At this moment there is a sense of joy and another of urgency… Joy because it is a wonderful and very powerful message for journalism. A very good greeting to two journalists… who represent all the journalists on this planet who They take risks to advance the right to information.”

2020: The United Nations World Food Program, in recognition of its “efforts to fight hunger and improve conditions for peace in conflict areas.”

– 2019: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in recognition of his efforts to make peace with Eritrea after decades of conflict.

– 2018: Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, a former victim of the Islamic State, in honor of their efforts to combat sexual violence used in conflicts around the world.

– 2017: The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICANN) for its contribution to the adoption of a historic treaty to ban nuclear weapons.

2016: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on his commitment to end the armed conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

2015: The Quartet that sponsors the National Dialogue in Tunisia, consisting of four civil society organizations, which saved the democratic transition in the country. These are the Tunisian General Labor Union, the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, the National Bar of Tunisia, and the Tunisian League for Human Rights.

2014: Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan) and Kailash Satyarty (India) for their “struggle against the persecution of children and youth and their defense of the right of all children to education”.

2013: The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for its efforts to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction.

2012: The European Union is the most important project that contributed to establishing peace on a continent torn apart by two world wars.

– 2011: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Lima Gbowee (Liberia) and Tawakkol Karman (Yemen) for their struggle by peaceful means for the security of women and their rights to participate in the peace process.