Nobel Peace Prize: Award Frequency Explained
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most prestigious awards in the world, recognizing individuals or organizations that have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.
How Often is the Nobel Peace Prize Awarded?
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually. According to the official website, one Nobel Prize is awarded each year. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes established by the will of Alfred Nobel in 1895, which are also awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature.
Selection and Ceremony
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, consisting of five members appointed by the Parliament of Norway, selects the laureate. The Nobel Peace Prize is traditionally presented in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death. The ceremony is a significant event, attended by dignitaries and broadcast worldwide, highlighting the laureate's contributions to global peace.
Notable Exceptions
While the prize is awarded annually, there have been instances where it was not awarded. This typically occurs when the Nobel Committee feels that none of the nominated candidates meet the criteria set out in Alfred Nobel's will. For example, the Nobel Peace Prize was not awarded during some years of World War I and World War II.
Who Decides?
The Norwegian Nobel Committee decides who receives the Nobel Peace Prize each year. This committee is composed of five individuals chosen by the Norwegian Parliament. Their selection process involves reviewing nominations and assessing candidates based on their contributions to peace.
Why Oslo?
Alfred Nobel stipulated that the Peace Prize should be awarded by a Norwegian committee. The exact reasons for this are debated, but it is often attributed to Norway's history of neutrality and its role in international diplomacy.
Interesting Facts about the Nobel Peace Prize:
- The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded in 1901 to Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, and Frédéric Passy, a French pacifist.
- Malala Yousafzai is the youngest Nobel laureate, having received the Peace Prize in 2014 at the age of 17.
- Linus Pauling is the only person to have been awarded two unshared Nobel Prizes (Chemistry in 1954 and Peace in 1962).
- The Nobel Peace Prize can be awarded to individuals, as well as organizations.
Conclusion
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year, except in rare cases when there are no suitable candidates, to those who have greatly contributed to global peace. Awarded annually in Oslo, Norway, the Nobel Peace Prize remains one of the most respected and influential accolades in the world.