Three Women Share 2011 Nobel Peace Prize

This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded jointly to three women - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman of Yemen. They were recognised for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building. Mrs Johnson Sirleaf is Africa's first female elected Head of State, Ms Gbowee is an activist and Ms Karman a leading figure in Yemen's pro-democracy movement. Gbowee was named for her campaign for peace during Liberia�s civil war. The jury said that her efforts led to the election of Sirleaf as Africa�s first elected head of state. Gbowee is now the executive director of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa, based in Accra, Ghana. Karman set up the group "Women Journalists Without Chains" (WJWC) in 2005 and campaigned for human rights. The three women who won the Nobel Prize have been commended for raising women empowerment to another level. The Programme Manager of Abantu for Development, Hamida Harrison said the prize is not only for the winners but for women in general. Speaking to Radio Ghana, Madam Harrison, said the Nobel Prize would help boost the chances of the Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is seeking re-election as President.