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IDRC Partner Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

2008-10

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has recognized Martti Ahtisaari’s long career in peacemaking by awarding the former president of Finland the Nobel Peace Prize.

“Throughout all his adult life, whether as a senior Finnish public servant and president or in an international capacity, often connected to the United Nations, Ahtisaari has worked for peace and reconciliation,” said the Committee in its announcement on October 10.

Ahtisaari has been credited for playing a significant role in the establishment of Namibia’s independence in 1990, and for brokering the 2005 peace deal that brought an end to three decades of armed conflict in Indonesia.

Currently, Ahtisaari is the chairman of Interpeace, an international peacebuilding organization active in war-torn societies around the world.

Interpeace was created in 2000 as the successor to the War-torn Societies Project, a UN pilot program. Since 1996, IDRC has provided support to a number of Interpeace peacebuilding projects.

IDRC and Interpeace are partnering with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance to develop a website and handbook on how to implement democratic, sustainable, and effective constitutions in conflict, post-conflict, and transitional settings. (For more information)

The Nobel Peace Prize, which includes a cheque for 10 million Norwegian crowns (CA $1.86 million), will be awarded on December 10 in Oslo, Norway.

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