Members of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) rally in Tunis to mark International Workers' Day May 1, 2012.
(Photo: Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters)
Oct 09, 2015
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded its prestigious Nobel Peace Prize to Tunisia's National Dialogue Quartet--the coalition of labor unions and human rights groups that forged a path to political compromise following the country's 2011 "Arab Spring" uprising.
The announcement was immediately met with cries of Mabrouk, or congratulations, to the ordinary people and left-wing forces whose tenacious efforts made the initiative possible.
Established in 2013, the quartet is a coalition of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT); the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA); the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH); and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
The Nobel committee formally recognized the coalition "for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011."
"[Award] proves dialogue is the only way to solve a crisis and not weapons."
--Ben Moussa, Human Rights League
"Congratulations to Tunisia, to the quartet and to all parties that facilitated the mission of the quartet," UGTT secretary general, Houcine Abassi, told the Tunisian Radio Mosaique FM station. "This prize came at the right time because our country is still threatened by different security challenges."
Ben Moussa, president of the LTDH, told the same program that the prize "proves dialogue is the only way to solve a crisis and not weapons."
"This prize rewards the role of civil society in supporting the aspirations of the Tunisian people for democracy and human rights," Moussa added in a separate statement.
"The quartet paved the way for a peaceful dialogue between the citizens, the political parties, and the authorities, and helped to find consensus-based solutions to a wide range of the challenges across political and religious divides," said Kaci Kullmann Five, chair of the Nobel Committee, emphasizing that the prize is intended "as an encouragement to the Tunisian people."
However, many say that the recipients of the prize are the ones who have set an example for the world.
The parties to the award "united labor and the rights movement to insist on an all-party road-map for political compromise," scholar and activist Vijay Prashad told Common Dreams. "This landmark move secured the Constitution and some element of stability in Tunisia. It was led by the Tunisian working class, through the UGTT, and not by the United Nations or the West."
What's more, many say that the award honors Tunisia's fallen, from Mohamed Bouazizi, whose self-immolation sparked what many refer to as the Arab Spring, to Chokri Belaid, the left politician who was assassinated in 2013. Farhat Hached, who played a critical role in building the UGTT, was assassinated by French colonial forces in 1952.
"It is a great tribute to Hached, Belaid, and to the Tunisian working class that they have won the Nobel Prize for Peace," said Prashad.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just hours away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
arab springcivil societylabor unionsmohamed bouazizinobel committeenobel peace prizenobel prizetunisia
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded its prestigious Nobel Peace Prize to Tunisia's National Dialogue Quartet--the coalition of labor unions and human rights groups that forged a path to political compromise following the country's 2011 "Arab Spring" uprising.
The announcement was immediately met with cries of Mabrouk, or congratulations, to the ordinary people and left-wing forces whose tenacious efforts made the initiative possible.
Established in 2013, the quartet is a coalition of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT); the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA); the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH); and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
The Nobel committee formally recognized the coalition "for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011."
"[Award] proves dialogue is the only way to solve a crisis and not weapons."
--Ben Moussa, Human Rights League
"Congratulations to Tunisia, to the quartet and to all parties that facilitated the mission of the quartet," UGTT secretary general, Houcine Abassi, told the Tunisian Radio Mosaique FM station. "This prize came at the right time because our country is still threatened by different security challenges."
Ben Moussa, president of the LTDH, told the same program that the prize "proves dialogue is the only way to solve a crisis and not weapons."
"This prize rewards the role of civil society in supporting the aspirations of the Tunisian people for democracy and human rights," Moussa added in a separate statement.
"The quartet paved the way for a peaceful dialogue between the citizens, the political parties, and the authorities, and helped to find consensus-based solutions to a wide range of the challenges across political and religious divides," said Kaci Kullmann Five, chair of the Nobel Committee, emphasizing that the prize is intended "as an encouragement to the Tunisian people."
However, many say that the recipients of the prize are the ones who have set an example for the world.
The parties to the award "united labor and the rights movement to insist on an all-party road-map for political compromise," scholar and activist Vijay Prashad told Common Dreams. "This landmark move secured the Constitution and some element of stability in Tunisia. It was led by the Tunisian working class, through the UGTT, and not by the United Nations or the West."
What's more, many say that the award honors Tunisia's fallen, from Mohamed Bouazizi, whose self-immolation sparked what many refer to as the Arab Spring, to Chokri Belaid, the left politician who was assassinated in 2013. Farhat Hached, who played a critical role in building the UGTT, was assassinated by French colonial forces in 1952.
"It is a great tribute to Hached, Belaid, and to the Tunisian working class that they have won the Nobel Prize for Peace," said Prashad.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday awarded its prestigious Nobel Peace Prize to Tunisia's National Dialogue Quartet--the coalition of labor unions and human rights groups that forged a path to political compromise following the country's 2011 "Arab Spring" uprising.
The announcement was immediately met with cries of Mabrouk, or congratulations, to the ordinary people and left-wing forces whose tenacious efforts made the initiative possible.
Established in 2013, the quartet is a coalition of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT); the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA); the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH); and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
The Nobel committee formally recognized the coalition "for its decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011."
"[Award] proves dialogue is the only way to solve a crisis and not weapons."
--Ben Moussa, Human Rights League
"Congratulations to Tunisia, to the quartet and to all parties that facilitated the mission of the quartet," UGTT secretary general, Houcine Abassi, told the Tunisian Radio Mosaique FM station. "This prize came at the right time because our country is still threatened by different security challenges."
Ben Moussa, president of the LTDH, told the same program that the prize "proves dialogue is the only way to solve a crisis and not weapons."
"This prize rewards the role of civil society in supporting the aspirations of the Tunisian people for democracy and human rights," Moussa added in a separate statement.
"The quartet paved the way for a peaceful dialogue between the citizens, the political parties, and the authorities, and helped to find consensus-based solutions to a wide range of the challenges across political and religious divides," said Kaci Kullmann Five, chair of the Nobel Committee, emphasizing that the prize is intended "as an encouragement to the Tunisian people."
However, many say that the recipients of the prize are the ones who have set an example for the world.
The parties to the award "united labor and the rights movement to insist on an all-party road-map for political compromise," scholar and activist Vijay Prashad told Common Dreams. "This landmark move secured the Constitution and some element of stability in Tunisia. It was led by the Tunisian working class, through the UGTT, and not by the United Nations or the West."
What's more, many say that the award honors Tunisia's fallen, from Mohamed Bouazizi, whose self-immolation sparked what many refer to as the Arab Spring, to Chokri Belaid, the left politician who was assassinated in 2013. Farhat Hached, who played a critical role in building the UGTT, was assassinated by French colonial forces in 1952.
"It is a great tribute to Hached, Belaid, and to the Tunisian working class that they have won the Nobel Prize for Peace," said Prashad.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.