The 2011 Nobel Peace prize has been divided equally between three women, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman

The Prize recognises their 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 obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first democratically elected female president. Since her inauguration in 2006, she has contributed to securing peace in Liberia, to promoting economic and social development, and to strengthening the position of women.

Leymah Gbowee mobilized and organized women across ethnic and religious dividing lines to bring an end to the long war in Liberia, and to ensure women’s participation in elections.

Tawakkul Karman has played a leading part in the struggle for women’s rights and for democracy and peace in Yemen.

The Noble peace prize ahs been awarded to women 44 times. Only one woman, Marie Curie, has been honoured twice, with the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics and the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This means that 43 women in total have been awarded the Nobel Prize between 1901 and 2011.

This is certainly a reason to celebrate women and the fantastic work many of them do.