Three women were honored with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for their roles in promoting peace and democracy. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Yemeni activist Tawakkul Karaman, and Liberian women鈥檚 rights activist Leymah Gbowee were the first women to win the prize since 2004. Ms. Karaman is the first Arab woman to win the prize and, in her early 30s, she is the youngest recipient in the award鈥檚 history.
鈥淲e cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of societies,鈥� the reads.
The majority of recipients of the 110-year-old award have been men, and many view the committee鈥檚 decision to honor three women with the $1.5 million prize as highlighting the growing prominence of women in peace and democracy-building wordwide.
鈥淵ou give concrete meaning to the Chinese proverb which says that 鈥榳omen hold up half of the sky,鈥欌�� Norwegian Nobel Committee president.
John McConnico/AP/File
