Students nominate women peace activists for Nobel Peace Prize

The working group is initiatiated by professor International Security Wolfgang Wagner, who is eligible to make a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.

„The three NGOs represent a growing women’s movement for peace that see women at the center of a transnational process of overcoming violence and hatred and of recognizing our shared humanity. With these nomination we want to show our support and appreciation for the admirable work the people in these organisations do,” says professor Wagner.

Tradition
The working group is an annual tradition at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Between September and December, Wagner, together with a group of students and colleagues lecturer and researcher Conflict & Peace Marije Luitjens and assistant professor of International Relations John Hogan, study the history and politics of the Nobel Peace Prize and interview suitable candidates. After intense discussions, the group decided to nominate the Palestinian NGO Women of the Sun, its Israeli counterpart Women Wage Peace and the France-based NGO Les Guerrières de la Paix for the prestigious peace award.

Peace & equality for women
Last academic year, the working group also nominated the NGOs Woman of the Sun and Women Wage Peace for their efforts and perseverance in working together towards peace. Both organisations not only advocate for more attention on the well-being of youth and children, but also for a gender equal peace building process. The nomination was ultimately not awarded, but according to Wagner, it remains important to express recognition and raise awareness for the important work these organisations do.

Les Guerrières de la Paix
Les Guerrières de la Paix is this year new to the list of nominees. The organisation was founded in 2022 to further strengthen and spread the work of the women’s peace movement by organising the first Women’s World Peace Forum, by helping to establish sister organisations in places like Iran, Ukraine, Morocco, Senegal and many others and by working with women in and beyond conflict zones. Les Guerrières de la Paix actively leads grassroots initiatives in conflict zones, with a particularly focused approach in Israel and Palestine, as well as extending their work across Europe.

Ceremony
On January 28th, 2025, the Nobel Peace Prize Working Group at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam will officialy nominate the chosen NGO’s during a ceremony at the university. Reem Hajajreh, Director of Women of the Sun, Yael Braudo-Bahat of Women Wage Peace and Hanna Assouline, Présidente des Guerrières de la Paix will also personally be present at VU Amsterdam to receive the nomination and to engage with the student community. The documentary "Resisting for Peace", directed by Hanna Assouline and Sonia Terrab, will be shown on the occasion. This documentary takes the viewer on the road through Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Bethlehem, Beit Jala, West Bank checkpoints, and the Gaza border kibbutzim. The film follows men and women who, despite their difficult personal stories and the harsh realities they endure, continue to forge bonds of understanding and empathy.