The Nobel Peace Prize for 2013 has been awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons.
In his announcement, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee Thorbjørn Jagland stated, “Recent events in Syria, where chemical weapons have again been put to use, have underlined the need to enhance the efforts to do away with such weapons.”
Mr Jagland also pointed out that a number of the Peace Prizes awarded by the Norwegian Nobel Committee have highlighted the need to eliminate nuclear weapons. In awarding this year’s prize to the OPCW, the Committee hopes to contribute to the elimination of chemical weapons.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has congratulated the OPCW on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize.
“This award will inspire further work to ensure that all countries join the ban on chemical weapons. The use of chemical weapons in Syria clearly demonstrates the need to keep up the unremitting effort to achieve this goal,” Mr Stoltenberg said.
This year there were 259 nominees to the Nobel Peace Prize, of which 50 were organisations. This is the largest number of nominations ever received. The Norwegian Nobel Committee gives details about the procedure for nominating recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize is presented in Oslo on 10 December each year.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s announcement
Press release from the Office of the Prime Minister