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Millions of women work day in day out to promote peace. They care for survivors, help with reconstruction
and initiate a new culture of peace. To represent these millions, it is our aim that in the year 2005 a thousand women shall
collectively receive the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts in pursuit of peace. This political prize will show that the
work they do is valuable and exemplary.
As their work is taken for granted and is usually unspectacular, it is neither acknowledged nor remunerated.
With the exception of 12 women, the recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, since it was first awarded in 1901, have been men.
In negotiating terms of peace, many more warlords than peacequeens make decisions about security, reconstruction and new political
structures. This despite the fact that women constantly prove that with their experience and competence, they can develop
and put into practice sustainable peace programs.
Our focus is on women worldwide from all walks of life - e.g., the woman farmer, teacher, artist or politician
– who devote themselves to a future free of violence. They have their own individual origins and backgrounds, which
have offered them, as the case may be, maybe wonderful opportunities, maybe only restricted options. In order that the world
become aware of their histories and their work, light must be thrown on their thousand profiles. Their thousand strategies
for constructive conflict management should provide important impulses for conflict research and peace policies. The project
will therefore be backed up academically. Last but not least, new peace networks will be established and existing ones strengthened.
PRESS RELEASE
"We the 1000 Women Nobel Peace Prize Nominees greet the announcement of the award of the 2005 Nobel Prize for Peace to
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its Director General, Mohamed El Baradei with enthusiasm and hope.
The award focuses attention on the urgent need to control, reduce, and with perseverance, to abolish these weapons of
mass destruction. The potential use of these weapons threatens catastrophic destruction to humankind and the planet which
sustains it.? Their development and testing have for decades wrought extreme destruction to human health and the environment.?
The role these weapons have played in the politics of war and peace have, as well, brought severe suffering the vulnerable
peoples.
"In light of the extremely disappointing outcomes of the recent UN Summit in regard to these weapons, the prize calls
upon us to continue the struggle toward outlawing nuclear weapons as a step toward the abolition of war itself, the institution
which continues to give rise to ever more devastating weapons.? We call upon on all world citizens to join us in working toward
these goals in the hope of human survival and the emergence of a culture of peace on planet Earth".
"We regret, however, the double mandate which the U.N. has given to the IAEA, mainly both to control nuclear weapons
and promote nuclear power. We find this a difficult and conflicting mandate, promotion leading directly to proliferation."
We especially bring to your attention the need to recognize the important role of women, who are so often the peace-makers,
but who are also victims of atomic attacks. The UN Resolution 1325, on Women, Peace and Security, which is International Law,
requires that the IAEA has at least 40% women on all decision-making committees. Women were invisible today at the announcement
by the Nobel Committee."
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