The spotlight has recently been on the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize recipients. This international recognition was bestowed upon three entities committed to human rights advocacy: Ales Bialiatski from Belarus, Russian human rights organisation Memorial, and Ukrainian human rights organisation Center for Civil Liberties. The award highlights their long-standing efforts towards safeguarding citizens’ fundamental rights and endorsing the right to critique power. With laureates hailing from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine, the award has subtly brought attention to the continuing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
A Look at the Previous Year’s Laureates
In 2021, the Nobel Peace Prize was conferred upon journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov from Russia. Their award commemorated their work in protecting freedom of expression, a key element to ensuring democracy and long-term peace.
Spotlight on Other 2022 Nobel Prizes
Alongside the Peace Prize, 2022 witnessed the announcement of several other Nobel Prizes across diverse fields like Literature, Chemistry, Physics and Medicine.
Who Are the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize Winners?
Ales Bialiatski: Belarus’s Champion for Democracy
Ales Bialiatski, originating from Belarus, was among the pioneers propelling the democratic movement in the country during the mid-1980s. His affiliations extend beyond advocacy, with his founding of the organisation Viasna (Spring) in 1996. Created as a response to the contentious constitutional amendments that handed quasi-dictatorial powers to the then-president, Alexander Lukashenko, Viasna has grown into an outspoken human rights organisation protesting against the authorities’ use of torture towards political prisoners while documenting such instances. In 2020, Bialiatski was honored as one of the Right Livelihood Award recipients, given by the Swedish Right Livelihood Foundation, an accolade often dubbed as the “Alternative Nobel”. Bialiatski is currently serving a sentence, making him the fourth laureate to receive the Nobel Peace Prize while being in prison.
Memorial: The Key Human Rights Organisation in Russia
Memorial, a Russian human rights organisation, was founded in 1987 by activists who were determined that the victims of the oppressive communist regime would not be forgotten. The organisation was born thanks to the efforts of Nobel Peace Prize awardee Andrei Sakharov (1954 laureate) and human rights advocate Svetlana Gannushkina, among others. Today, Memorial is recognised as one of the largest human rights organisations in Russia, actively collecting data on political oppression and human rights violations within the country.
Center for Civil Liberties: Advancing Human Rights in Ukraine
The Ukrainian organisation, Center for Civil Liberties, came into existence in Kyiv in 2007 with a clear goal of promoting human rights and democracy in Ukraine. The Centre identifies itself as a prominent player in Ukraine, actively shaping public opinion and policy, nurturing civic activism, and fervently participating in international networks and solidarity actions to propagate human rights. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Centre has been instrumental in identifying and documenting the alleged “war crimes” committed against the civilian population in Ukraine by the Russian forces.
