The Student Peace Prize: Still a Young History

An Alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize

In 1998 enthusiastic students under the leadership of Sigvart Eriksen were involved in arranging the fifth International Student Festival in Trondheim, which would take place in March the following year. Almost ten years after the idea of ISFiT came to life, a new idea of a peace prize from students to students began to take shape. The founders felt strongly that students fighting for peace and human rights often were neglected by politicians and the media. They also wondered about why students never seemed to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Students have always played an active part in conflicts, raising their voices for democratic as well as human rights. The students founding the Student Peace Prize wanted these to be noticed and honored. An alternative to the Nobel Peace Prize was established with a goal of giving struggling students and their organizations new inspiration and hope.

Great Words

As early as in its first year the prize got considerable recognition from great personalities. The leader of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee at that time, Francis Sejersted, pronounced that he believed the Student Peace Prize was an excellent initiative: “The effects of this peace prize are twofold. Firstly, it is an encouragement and support for the receivers and their cause. Secondly, it will make every student aware of the situation”. Jan Egeland, today the executive director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, stated that “I have great belief in the idea of a student peace prize, and I hope and believe that it will be a success”.

A Prize from all the Students of Norway

From the start the Student Peace Prize was meant to be a national prize – awarded on behalf of all Norwegian students. Therefore Norwegian universities at that time, contributed in the establishment, financially as well as morally. The founders made it clear that as well as international acknowledgment was of great importance, it was just as important that the Prize had national legitimacy. During the first years they were still not sure whether the Prize Ceremony would take place in different university towns, or if it would continue to have its seat in Trondheim. Time wanted it to stay in Trondheim, and to be an important part of ISFiT, where both Norwegian and international students got the chance to greet the winner.

Sign of Achievement

Since the start five students or student organizations from all over the world, have received the prize. In 2009 it is ten years since the first peace prize was received of a student. The very first laureate was East Timor Student Solidarity Council (ETSSC) and Antero Benedito da Silva from East Timor. He stated that he was very pleased with the initiative of a peace prize for students: “The attention we have been given will inspire us and continue to give us international attention. At home it might be of a negative effect, and lead us into riots. But I’m not frightened. I have no enemies”. In 2003 the Student Peace Prize was awarded to ZINASU – a student organization in Zimbabwe. Their president, Mr. Nkululeko Sibanda, stated that "the prize is a sign of achievement. We hope that we can be able to use it as a base to fight harder struggles for the improvement of people’s lives in the rest of the world”.

Securing the Future

The work to establish a fund began in 2000. The goal was to gain more independence from ISFiT, and also to secure the future of the prize. The aim today is for the fund to grow even larger, so that it alone can support the prize and the laureates – both former and those of the future. A big step in the process of becoming an independent organization will be made in 2011, when the Student Peace Prize and ISFiT have decided to separate. The Student Peace Prize will then be standing on its own feet, even though it will be using ISFiT as an arena and collaborating partner. Today much of the work within the Student Peace Prize consists of financing and following-up on former laureates. The aim is to build a network for those who earlier have received the prize, so that they always will be able to benefit from the achievement. To establish the name of the Student Peace Prize is another important task. The goal is for more people to know about the prize and to see the influence that it aims to have on society.

Award to Students Everywhere

The Student Peace Prize is the only peace prize in the world given to and from students. The solidarity and fellowship between students which it aims at will hopefully help the world to create a better future consisting of peace, democracy and human rights for everyone. Thorvald Stoltenberg, former President of the Norwegian Red Cross, and member of the Student Peace Prize Committee in 2003 said, when awarding the Student Peace Prize: “This is an award to students who work for freedom and democracy everywhere”.

Åshild Hals