The Nobel Peace Prize, one of the most prestigious global honors, will be announced this Friday, once again drawing attention to individuals and organizations recognized for their efforts to promote peace worldwide. Understanding how this esteemed award is decided sheds light on its significance and the rigorous selection process behind it.
Each year, hundreds of candidates are nominated for the prize. This year, there are 287 nominees, including 208 individuals and 79 organizations. However, the full list remains confidential for 50 years, securely stored in a vault at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo. Despite this secrecy, nominators from around the world sometimes disclose their choices publicly.
Among the speculated nominees is former US President Donald Trump, with leaders from Cambodia, Israel, and Pakistan reportedly nominating him, though these claims cannot be independently verified. Experts generally consider his chances of winning to be very low.
Other frontrunners this year include Pope Leo, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Additional contenders are Emergency Response Rooms, a Sudanese network providing aid amid civil conflict, and the NGO Save the Children, recognized for its work supporting children in war zones. An unconventional nominee is the International Space Station, symbolizing international cooperation among countries often at odds, including the US, Russia, and European nations.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member panel appointed by Norway’s parliament. Members are typically retired politicians or individuals with significant public service backgrounds, reflecting the political balance within the Norwegian legislature. The current committee is chaired by the head of Norway’s PEN International branch, an organization advocating freedom of expression, and includes an academic member.
The prize is awarded the criteria set out in the 1895 will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist who founded it. The will specifies the prize should go to the person who has done the most or best to promote fraternity among nations, reduce standing armies, and advance peace congresses. However, the committee places these criteria in the context of current global events and trends, considering ongoing peace processes or new international agreements.
Thousands of qualified individuals worldwide can submit nominations, including government officials, parliamentarians, university rectors, professors in relevant fields, and previous laureates. The nomination period closes on January 31 each year, with committee members able to add nominations at their first meeting in February.
Once nominations are collected, the committee reviews all candidates and creates a shortlist. Each nominee undergoes thorough evaluation by permanent advisers and external experts. The committee meets monthly to discuss the candidates, typically reaching a decision by August or September. They strive for consensus but will resort to a majority vote if necessary. The last notable committee resignation occurred in 1994, following the joint award to Yasser Arafat, Shimon Peres, and Yitzhak Rabin.
The laureate receives a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash award of 12 million Swedish crowns (approximately $1.2 million), along with immediate worldwide recognition. The prize announcement is made at the Norwegian Nobel Institute in Oslo, with the ceremony held on December 10 at Oslo City Hall, marking the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.
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