The 2025 list comprises of:
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms
- The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights & The Carter Center
- The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
- The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court
Committee to Protect Journalists
Never before have so many journalists been killed in a single year. A record 124 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024 alone, with nearly 70% of those deaths in the Israel–Gaza war. Palestinian journalism has been decimated and Gaza has become the deadliest warzone for reporters in modern history.
From war-torn Sudan, where at least nine journalists have been killed and up to 90% of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed, to the relentless targeting of independent media in Russia, Myanmar and Afghanistan, reporting truth has become a matter of life and death.
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a US-based watchdog group that compiles data on journalists who have been attacked or killed and advocates for journalists in crisis, would be a worthy candidate in this area. At a time when the free press is under historic assault, awarding the Committee to Project Journalists the Nobel Peace Prize would send a powerful message that peace and democracy are endangered if journalists are prevented from keeping the world informed.
Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms
The armed conflict that erupted in Sudan in 2023 has plunged the country into one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Nearly 13 million people have been forcibly displaced since the start of the conflict and over half the Sudanese population need aid. The international system has struggled to meet overwhelming needs, prompting community-led, volunteer aid networks in Sudan to step in and provide lifesaving services to millions of women, men and children.
One notable initiative is the Emergency Response Rooms, who have set up communal kitchens, supported evacuations, offered medical care, fixed infrastructure and provided other services to communities.
Operating in a decentralized structure, these groups deliver essential humanitarian assistance in a highly complex conflict environment, with limited access to external resources and logistics. Volunteers often operate in insecure areas, facing threats of harassment and violence. Recent cuts to USAID funding have compounded these challenges by reducing overall international support for aid operations in Sudan.
Awarding this year’s Peace Prize to a deserving humanitarian initiative such as the Emergency Response Rooms would highlight the critical importance of access to lifesaving aid in times of conflict, and the power of everyday citizens to serve humanity in difficult times.
The OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights & The Carter Center
Democracy is under pressure around the world, with the rise of illiberal movements and authoritarian regimes. More of the world’s people are living in autocracies today than only a decade ago, and the number of countries democratizing is falling. Even in established constitutional democracies, the integrity of democratic institutions cannot be taken for granted, as recent developments in South Korea and the US have shown. Upholding the pillars of democracy is more important than ever before.
Election observation is one important tool for strengthening democracy: research indicates that international observers help curb electoral fraud and mitigate election-related violence. The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) observes elections throughout its 57 participating states. It also provides technical assistance to improve the legislative and administrative framework for elections in specific countries.
Another worthy candidate in this area is The Carter Center. A nonprofit organization established in 1982 by Nobel laureate and former US President, Jimmy Carter, the Center is dedicated to promoting basic human rights, alleviating human suffering and contributing to conflict resolution. As part of its commitment to freedom and democracy, The Carter Center has organized election observation in 125 elections in 40 countries.
The work of ODIHR and The Carter Center to ensure that elections are free and fair would make them timely recipients of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) was founded in 1915 by over 1,000 suffragettes from 12 countries, including Norway. As one of the world’s first peace organizations, WILPF has continuously tackled the root causes of conflict while championing global peace. It played a significant role in establishing the United Nations in 1945, and lobbying for nuclear disarmament as a key member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to WILPF would carry special significance this year, marking the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. In 2000, WILPF led the coalition that lobbied for and drafted this landmark resolution, recognizing the crucial role of women in peacebuilding.
In a world where women continue to be excluded from formal peace processes, WILPF's commitment to empowering women peacebuilders and amplifying their voices is more important than ever. Honouring WILPF with the Nobel Peace Prize would acknowledge its long and faithful service to peace, and highlight the significance of women’s peace activism.
The International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court
The maintenance of an internationally recognized normative order, and in particular international law, is crucial for preventing and resolving conflict in an increasingly polarized world.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) and International Criminal Court (ICC) promote peace through international law, analogous to the peace congresses highlighted in Alfred Nobel's will.
Established in 1945 by the UN Charter, the ICJ settles legal disputes between states and advises on legal questions within the UN. With all 193 UN Member States party to its Statute, the ICJ is a globally accepted mechanism for dispute resolution. Notably, it ordered Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza in January, and Russia to suspend military operations in Ukraine in March 2022.
The ICC, established by the Rome Statute in 2002, holds individuals accountable for crimes like genocide and war crimes. The ICC's efforts in bringing justice to victims anywhere in the world have the potential to contribute significantly to global peace. Recognizing the ICC with the Nobel Peace Prize would highlight the importance of accountability and justice in achieving lasting peace, and the equal responsibility of all states and leaders to respect international law.
The ICJ and ICC would be deserving recipients of the 2025 Peace Prize for their role in fostering multilateral collaboration and holding those who breach internationally recognized norms to account.
