Three Women Win Nobel Peace Prize

Congratulations to all three women who won the Nobel Peace Prize. I wanted to share this story as it has only appeared briefly on the news and I love to share good news.

This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded jointly to three women - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Leymah Gbowee and Tawakul Karman of Yemen. They were recognized for their "non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work".

"We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women achieve the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society," said Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland in Oslo.

The Committee said it hoped the three-way award "will help to bring an end to the suppression of women that still occurs in many countries, and to realize the great potential for democracy and peace that women can represent."

Only a dozen other women have received the Nobel Peace Prize among 85 men, as well as a number of organizations, who have won the prize over its 110-year history.

This is a victory for women's rights all over the world. Let's applaud these women for their achievements!

Aiming High

As women in the United States of America, we may take our freedoms for granted. In this country we have the ability to do things that women in other parts of the world don’t: marry whom we choose, own property, get an education, drive.

That’s why one article I recently read got my attention – in fact, it was the photo that caught my eye first: four Afghan women wearing head coverings and military uniforms. 

The headline read: “Afghan officers are aiming high.”

These women are training to become their country’s first females piloting military helicopters.

“We’re going to open the door for ladies in Afghanistan,” said second Lt. Sourya Saleh. “It’s a big deal for us to open this door for the others. That these other ladies who have the dream and think they can do it, we want to show them.”

 

These women are fighting against the odds to pursue their dreams.

While Afghanistan remains a male-dominated culture, women there now go to school and work in offices. Having women pilots in the military will be a huge step not just for Afghanistan but for the entire Middle East.

 

With all of the negative news coming out of the Middle East, I’m excited to be able to share this story.

I wish these women the best of luck in their journey.

You can read the full story here