Hélène Laverdière honours 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winners

MONTRÉAL — NDP MP and Official Opposition Foreign Affairs critic Hélène Laverdière honoured the three women recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize in the House of Commons today.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman were awarded the prize "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work," according to the Nobel Prize committee.

“This award is a victory for the many women working worldwide for peace, democracy and social justice. On behalf of the Official Opposition, I wish to extend our warmest congratulations to these three exemplary women for their outstanding commitment to peace,” said Laverdière in the House of Commons.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Africa’s first democratically elected woman President. She has been a leading voice in the fight against sexual violence in Liberia.

Leymah Gbowee led the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace movement, forcing an end to the Liberian Civil War. She is now director of Women Peace and Security Network Africa, where she continues to campaign for peace and the political participation of women.

Tawakkul Karman is a Yemeni journalist and activist who has been leading peaceful protests in Sana’a since January. She continues to sit in Change Square in Sana’a every day alongside fellow nonviolent activists campaigning for democracy in Yemen.

“These women were awarded this great honor for their peaceful leadership during situations of conflict. We can only be inspired by their courage and determination”, added Françoise Boivin, Gatineau MP and official opposition critic for the Status of Women.