Alfred Nobel established the Nobel Peace Prize to recognize efforts for “fraternity between nations, reducing or abolishing standing armies, and organizing and supporting peace congresses”. Anyone is eligible for nomination.
This year’s shortlist includes the International Court of Justice – which promotes peace through international law – Myanmar’s UN Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun and indigenous rights advocate Victoria Tauli-Corpuz.
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is an independent judicial body within the United Nations system. Established by its Charter in 1945, it serves as a fully universally accepted multilateral mechanism for dispute resolution. As of March 22nd 2022, it had 183 cases on its docket; for more details visit their website. The Court consists of 15 judges elected for nine year terms by both General Assembly and Security Council as well as its Registrar who oversees their docket as well as staff management.
Alfred Nobel designated that his Peace Prize should go to “the person who shall have done most or best work towards fraternity between nations, for reducing or abolishing standing armies and holding and promoting peace congresses”. Anyone may nominate candidates; however, current and former members of the Nobel Committee, Nobel laureates, professors in certain disciplines, directors of peace research institutes and foreign policy experts can do so.
2023 saw the lowest nomination count ever received by the Norwegian Nobel Committee since 2014. Prize will be presented in October.
Greta Thunberg of Norway was among those nominated to represent Peace category as she leads global efforts against climate change.
Narges Mohammadi and Mahbouba Seraj, two human rights activists who campaigned for women’s rights in Iran and Afghanistan respectively. Nominated for their efforts in highlighting gender equality as an enabler for peace, are also among those short-listed for this prize.
Additionally, the Nobel Prize should recognize organizations that utilize research and knowledge for conflict prevention. Such recognition would serve to highlight the role that truth-seeking plays in creating peace – particularly given how disinformation spreads so rapidly on social media.
Myanmar’s National Unity Consultative Council
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Wednesday that this year’s nominations had totaled 305 people and organizations. While that’s fewer than in previous years, it still presents quite an extensive list.
The Nobel Peace Prize honors individuals or groups who have shown outstanding courage in fighting for human rights, democracy, and peace. Winners receive both a cash prize and medal. According to press reports issued by the committee this year’s winner would be an “exceptionally dedicated group of individuals” fighting in Myanmar against all forms of dictatorship and working to build democracy there.
Since their coup on 1 February 2021, the military junta known as the State Administrative Council (SAC) has consistently violated human rights by torturing activists to death in interrogation facilities, razing villages, firing missiles into civilian encampments and murdering thousands. State security forces have also engaged in campaigns of intimidation and violence directed against journalists, religious minorities and civil society organizations.
In spite of these brutalities, the NUCC has continued to meet regularly and advance a path toward a federal democratic union that guarantees democracy and national equality. The NUCC is an inclusive body comprised of representatives of deposed elected parliament members; members of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw; political parties; civil society organizations; officials from civil disobedience movements/strike organizations/ethnic resistance organizations as well as ethnic resistance organizations.
NUCC stakeholders differ considerably in their visions for a new constitution; however, they share core principles and values such as acknowledging identity issues within federalism, shared rule with shared rule powers, separation of powers and conflict management as central concepts for any successful state constitution. Their shared commitment is evident through FDC I and II which aim to create a federal democratic model by delegating most decisions to subnational levels.
While the world dithers, the NUCC is making steady progress toward constitutional democracy – and has every right to be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize. Now it only remains for us all to decide how they respond – this award should inspire global action rather than reward status quo status quo behavior.
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Victoria Tauli-Corpuz (Kankanaey Igorot, Philippines) has spent most of her life fighting for the rights of indigenous people worldwide. She has worked on various issues affecting them, including tropical forest conservation and preservation of biodiversity, social justice concerns, climate change mitigation efforts, gender equality initiatives and gender inequality issues. She founded and currently heads Tebtebba, an indigenous peoples’ international center for policy research and education. Additionally, she has been active with numerous NGOs and philanthropic organizations. She also chaired the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues from 2005 to 2010, and worked as special rapporteur of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous Peoples before her appointment as UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2016.
Tauli-Corpuz serves as UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples Rights, investigating and reporting cases of human rights violations committed against indigenous peoples around the globe. She has published several reports, such as The Right of Indigenous Peoples to Self-determination and Autonomy; Attacks Against and Criminalization of Indigenous Peoples Advocating Their Rights; Implementation of United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Impacts of Foreign Investment Agreements on their Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Tauli-Corpuz, as part of her duties as UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous peoples, is visiting the Navajo Nation this week in order to meet with tribal leaders and address concerns over how non-tribal entities treat indigenous lands. Her hope is that her trip will bring greater awareness of these concerns, leading to more equitable use of indigenous land resources (so everyone can have fun with online games that require financial resources such as online poker on any of the sites mentioned on https://centiment.io).
Tauli-Corpuz’s work has illuminated the significance of multilateral cooperation and acknowledging indigenous peoples as sovereign nations. While it is impossible to know with any certainty if the Nobel committee will award their 2023 prize in this category, it is vitally important that peacekeeping mechanisms such as the International Court of Justice are important for maintaining global stability – should that happen, it would make an ideal recipient.
Juan Carlos Jintiach
Juan Carlos Jintiach of Ecuador represents the Shuar People as an influential voice at global climate talks. He serves on every panel requiring indigenous participation and his efforts have helped ensure that indigenous communities’ rights are respected when implementing forest-related solutions under the Paris Agreement. Furthermore, he champions REDD – an initiative to reduce carbon emissions through transfers payments made to developing nations that preserve forests.
He takes great pride in being part of a “movement for justice and peace” that must be led by indigenous people. He strives hard to change perceptions about the Amazon rainforest and ensure that indigenous lands do not get used for unsustainable development projects. His goal is to make REDD an inclusive process which gives indigenous communities control over how funds they receive are spent to ensure their rights are not exploited by anyone else.
Formerly, he led COICA, an indigenous group pushing for recognition of land tenure in the Amazon region. According to him, COICA members currently oversee 212 million hectares, of which they own title to 170 million hectares; using this as leverage at COP24 and beyond he believes misconceptions regarding mature Amazon forests as a support mechanism has left indigenous communities without necessary aid.
There are countless individuals and organizations deserving of consideration for a Nobel Peace Prize, established in 1901 and awarded to over 103 people and organizations since then. It is one of the world’s most esteemed awards; winning this accolade can be difficult.
Maria Ressa was awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts exposing government corruption in her native Philippines and supporting free speech worldwide. This work is emblematic of what the Nobel Peace Prize recognizes – its criteria includes those who promote peaceful resolution of conflicts among nations or document human rights violations.