UN chief praises women’s role in advancing peace

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday praised women’s role in advancing peace after this year's Nobel Peace Prize were awarded to three women.

"With this decision, the Norwegian Nobel Committee sends a clear message: women count for peace," Xinhua quoted Ban as saying. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, Leymah Gbowee, Liberian peace activist and Tawakkul Karman, activist in Yemen were Friday honoured with Nobel Peace Prize for "their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace building work."

"It is a testament to the power of the human spirit and underscores a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter: the vital role of women in the advancement of peace and security, development and human rights," Ban said in statement released by his spokesperson.

"Today, as we salute these three remarkable leaders, we at the United Nations reaffirm our determination to advance the cause of women across the full spectrum of our work," Ban said. Earlier Friday, Ban said that this moment "is a great encouragement, not only to women in their communities, but to all the people around the world."

"I believe that women's human rights and their economic, social and political opportunities should be promoted," Ban said. With women representing half of the world's population, "if not equal, if not more, they should be given minimum equal opportunities and power," he said.