30 Nobel Peace Laureates, awarded organizations, prize recipients and Peace Laureates’ foundations from around the world will arrive to Merida for the 17th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, to be held between 19-22 of September 2019.
The historic event will mobilize the city in the spirit of peace – inspiring thoughts and actions for a more friendly, peaceful world. The Nobel Peace Summit is considered to be the largest peace-building conversation in recent times with so many peace architects and experts coming together. The unprecedented number of confirmed Nobel speakers, including Nobel Peace Laureates, representatives of the awarded organizations, prize recipients and laureates’ foundations, for this year’s Summit highlights the 20th Anniversary of the event making this occasion in Mérida especially important in proving the reputation and scale of the Summit.
Merida, the host city of the event is being listed among other Summit host cities as Rome, Berlin, Hiroshima, Chicago, Bogota, Barcelona and Paris. The co-organizers of the 17th Nobel Peace Summit are the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and the Government of the State of Yucatan.
Ekaterina Zagladina, President of the Permanent Secretariat of the Summit notes, “Every Summit has a unique atmosphere gathering Nobel energy and great leaders, experts and inspirational stories, productive discussions and exchange of experiences to address issues that affect our common welfare. We hope that the spirit and energy of peace-making will energize the Mexican society and foster a common acting for peace and humanity today and in years ahead. We believe that this Summit in particular will bring enormous benefits to all participants who are welcome to share examples and best practices for other nations by spreading peace and adding practical value to discussions. We look forward to being in Mérida, Mexico.”
The 17th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates will also demonstrate the capacity of the Yucatan capital and its infrastructure to meet the needs of the most important global meetings.
The list of confirmed attendees:
Nobel Peace Laureates, Individuals:
LECH WALESA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF POLAND, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 1983 received the Nobel Peace Prize for his “contribution, made with considerable personal sacrifice, to ensure the workers’ right to establish their own organisations”.
RIGOBERTA MENCHU TUM, GUATEMALA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 1992 won the Prize “in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples”.
FREDERIK WILLEM DE KLERK, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 1993received the Prize together with Nelson Mandela “for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa”.
JOSE RAMOS-HORTA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF EAST TIMOR, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 1996received the Prize together with Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo “for their work towards a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor”.
JODY WILLIAMS, USA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 1997received the Prize together with International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) “for their work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines”.
LORD DAVID TRIMBLE, NORTHERN IRELAND, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 1998 received the Prize together with John Hume “for their efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in Northern Ireland”.
SHIRIN EBADI, IRAN, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 2003received the Prize “for her efforts for democracy and human rights. She has focused especially on the struggle for the rights of women and children”.
TAWAKKOL KARMAN, YEMEN, NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2011received the Prize together with Leymah Gbowee and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work”.
LEYMAH GBOWEE, LIBERIA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 2011together with Tawakkol Karman and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work”.
KAILASH SATYARTHI, INDIA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 2014received the Prize together with Malala Yousafzai “for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education”.
JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, FORMER PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA, NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE 2016 received the Prize “for his resolute efforts to bring the country’s more than 50-year-long civil war to an end”.
Representatives of Nobel Peace Prize Awarded Organizations
Institute of International Law NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1904
Representative: Mr Marcelo Kohen, Secretary General
Institute of International Law is a nongovernmental organization of lawyers. It was founded by eleven international lawyers in Belgium in 1873 in order to create an independent institution to contribute to the development of international law and to act so that it might be implemented. Today the institute keeps working to make the rules of international law the guidelines for relations between countries and governments. Was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of its action in favour of arbitration among States, a peaceful means of settling disputes.
International Peace Bureau NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1910
Representative: Ms Lisa Clark, Co-President
The International Peace Bureau is an organization dedicated to the vision of a World Without War. The current program of IPB focuses on Disarmament for Sustainable Development and on the reallocation of military expenditure. IPB supports a range of disarmament campaigns and supply data on the economic dimensions of weapons and conflicts. IPB has 300 member organizations in 70 countries, and a wide network of individual members.
International Committee of the Red Cross NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1917, 1944, 1963
Representative; Mr Anton Camen, Deputy Head of delegation in Mexico
Established in 1863 the ICRC is an independent and neutral organization that operates worldwide, helping people affected by conflict and armed violence and promoting the laws that protect victims of war. Today the ICRC is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and employ some 16,000 people in more than 80 countries. The ICRC is a unique Peace Prize recipient that was awarded the Prize three times in history.
American Friends Service Committee, NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1947
Representative: Ms Joyce Ajlouny, General Secretary
Representative: Mr Phil Lord, Clerk
Founded in 1917 during the World War I, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) is a Quaker organization that promotes lasting peace with justice, as a practical expression of faith in action. AFSC nurtures the seeds of change and respect for human life that transform social relations and systems. They were allowed to undertake humanitarian work as an alternative to war service, and actively participated in the rebuilding of France. They organized massive aid projects in Europe, helping people who were suffering from hunger and need, worked hard on behalf of Jewish refugees, and cared for victims of the Spanish civil war.
United Nations Children’s Fund NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1965
Representative: Ms Marita Perceval, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean
UNICEF was founded by the United Nations in 1946 to supply food, clothes and medicine to children and mothers in war-torn Europe, China and Palestine. Later the mission of the organization was changed to a long-term objectives of aiming to help developing countries. UNICEF helps mothers and children, distributes food, fought disease and shares useful information. For the past 70 years of work UNICEF built thousands of health stations in the third world and launched projects to ensure school attendance for children and adolescents. Today UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of children.
International Labour Organization NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1969
Representative: Ms Gerardina González Marroquin, Director of the ILO Office for México and Cuba
Founded in 1919, today the ILO brings together governments, employers and workers of 187 member States, to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all women and men. The ILO was created to pursue a vision that universal, lasting peace can be established only if it is based on social justice. In 1946 the ILO became the first specialized agency of the UN.
Amnesty International NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1977
Representative: Ms Erika Guevara Rosas, Americas Director
Amnesty International is a worldwide human rights organization run by its members. It is independent of governments, financial players, religions or nations. It was founded in 1961 by a British lawyer and had developed into a global movement of more than 7 million people who take injustice personally and campaign for human rights for everyone. Amnesty is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for contributing to ‘securing the ground for freedom, for justice, and thereby also for peace in the world’. Over the years Amnesty has grown from seeking the release of political prisoners to upholding the whole spectrum of human rights. They speak out for anyone and everyone whose freedom and dignity are under threat.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1954, 1981 (twice)
Representative: Mr Mark Manly, Mexico National representative
The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was created in 1950, after the Second World War, to help millions of those who had fled or lost their homes. Today UNHCR keeps working hard protecting and assisting refugees around the world. In 1954, UNHCR won the Nobel Peace Prize for its groundbreaking work in Europe. In 1981, they received a second Nobel Peace Prize for what had become worldwide assistance to refugees. UNHCR now has more than 16,803 personnel working in 134 countries. Since 1950 the organization has helped over 50 million refugees to successfully restart their lives.
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1985
Representative: Mr Ira Helfand, Co-President
IPPNW is a non-partisan federation of national medical groups in 64 countries, representing tens of thousands of doctors, medical students, health workers, and concerned citizens who share the common goal of creating a more peaceful and secure world freed from the threat of nuclear annihilation. During the years of the Cold War IPPNW held annual congresses to tell the world about the consequences of nuclear war. The organization recommended a nuclear test ban and demanded that the great powers should refrain from first use in conflict situations. Awarded the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for performing “a considerable service to mankind by spreading authoritative information and by creating an awareness of the catastrophic consequences of atomic warfare.” Today, IPPNW engages in a wide variety of activities related to war, health, social justice, and the environment.
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1995
Representative: Mr Sergio Duarte, President
The mission of the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is to bring scientific insight and reason to bear on the catastrophic threat posed to humanity by nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. It was in recognition of its mission to “diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and to eliminate such arms” that Pugwash and its co-founder, Sir Joseph Rotblat, were awarded the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize. Three issues have been most important to Pugwash: the dangers of nuclear energy in war and peace, control of nuclear weapons, and the responsibility of science to society. During the Cold War, the Pugwash movement served as a channel of communication between the communist Eastern block and the Western democracies.
International Campaign to Ban Landmines NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 1997
Representative: Mr Steve Goose, Co-founder
Representative: Mr Hector Guerra, Director
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is a global network of non-governmental organizations, active in 100 countries, that works for a world free of antipersonnel landmines. The ICBL began its work in 1991. Its object was to bring an international ban on landmines. The organization was fronted by Jody Williams, who shared the Peace Prize with the ICBL in 1997. To that moment the ICBL had the support of over 1,000 organizations in 60 countries, same year the representatives of 120 countries signed the Ottawa Convention prohibiting landmines.
Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2015
Representative: Mr Abdessattar Ben Moussa, President, Tunisian Human Rights League
Representative: Ms Wided Bouchamaoui, President, Union Tunisienne de l’industrie, du Commerce et de L’artisanat
The Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013 and established an alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink of civil war. The National Dialogue Quartet has comprised four key organizations in Tunisian civil society: the Tunisian General Labour Union, the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, the Tunisian Human Rights League, and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers. The Quartet exercised its role as a mediator and driving force to advance peaceful democratic development in Tunisia with great moral authority.
International Campaign To Abolish Nuclear Weapons NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2017
Representative: Ms María Eugenia Villareal, Steering Committee Member
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations in one hundred countries promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations nuclear weapon ban treaty. This landmark global agreement was adopted in New York on 7 July 2017. The campaign’s founders were inspired by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which a decade earlier had played an instrumental role in the negotiation of the anti-personnel mine ban convention, or Ottawa treaty. ICAN was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for the “work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons” and our “ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons”.
Nobel Peace Prize Recipient:
José Manuel Barroso was the 11th President of the European Commission and was the Prize recipient on behalf of the European Union in 2012.
José Manuel Barroso has previously served as the 11th President of the European Commission (2004-2014) and the 115th Prime Minister of Portugal (2002-2004). In 2012 he was the Nobel Peace Prize recipient on behalf of the European Union.
Nobel Peace Laureates Foundations:
Albert Schweitzer Institute, Nobel Peace Laureate’s Foundation
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE ALBERT SCHWEITZER 1952
Representative: Mr Sean Duffy, President
Inspired by the teachings and philosophy of the Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the Institute is an international humanitarian organization which is dedicated to alleviating suffering and injustice in the world, creating more sustainable future for our planet and its inhabitants. Founded in 1984 as the Albert Schweitzer Memorial Foundation, the Institute conducts international programs that link education, ethics and voluntarism. Programs focus on healthcare development in under-served areas; motivating young people to serve the community and the environment as a way of life; and increasing public awareness of Dr. Schweitzer’s philosophy and its potential for a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Martin Luther King Center, Nobel Peace Laureate’s Foundation
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 1964
Representative: Ms Bernice A. King President and CEO
Established in 1968, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) is a global destination, resource center and community institution. Both a traditional memorial and programmatic nonprofit, the King Center was envisioned by its founder to be “no dead monument, but a living memorial filled with all the vitality that was his, a center of human endeavor, committed to the causes for which he lived and died.” The King Center is dedicated to ensuring that the King legacy not only remains relevant and viable, but is effectively leveraged for positive social impact. The King Center is dedicated to educating the world on the life, legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., inspiring new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today.
Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE DESMOND TUTU 1984
Representative: Mr Brian Rasch
Tebogo Joy Ngoma, granddaughter of Desmond Tutu
The mission of the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation is to use Desmond Tutu’s legacy to inspire young people to build a world of peace within themselves, peace between people, and peace among nations. The Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation envisions a world in which everyone values human dignity and our interconnectedness. The programs of the Foundation are based on the teachings of Desmond Tutu who has dedicated his life to reshaping conversations about peace, equality, and forgiveness.
Nelson Mandela Foundation 1993, Nobel Peace Laureate’s Foundation
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE NELSON MANDELA 1993
Representative: Mr Sello Hatang, CEO
The Nelson Mandela Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on memory, dialogue and legacy work, founded by Nelson Mandela in 1999. The Foundation is a committed facilitator of Nelson Mandela’s living legacy; and is mandated to promote his lifelong vision of freedom and equality for all. Part of the preservation and advancement of Mandela’s legacy and making this legacy available to the world is the provision and ongoing preservation of its extensive archive collection materials.
Yunus Centre,
Grameen Creative Lab
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE MUHAMMAD YUNUS 2006
Representative: Mr Hans Reitz, Co-Founder of Grameen Creative Lab
The Yunus Centre is an organization aimed primarily at promoting and disseminating Professor Yunus’ philosophy, with a special focus on social business. Since 2008 it has been the one-stop resource point for all Grameen social business-related activities both globally and in Bangladesh. The Centre is chaired by Professor Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
The Grameen Creative Lab’s vision is to serve society’s most pressing needs. The Lab brainstorms social business ideas, consults on public events, publishes books and articles, initiates and supports academic research and supports investors and the public sector along with other social initiatives and businesses.
