Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet

The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize to the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, a civil society forum comprising of the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT, Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail); the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA, Union Tunisienne de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Artisanat); the Tunisian Order of Lawyers (Ordre National des Avocats de Tunisie); and the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, La Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme).

The Nobel Price Committees' decision is an important recognition of the efforts of the Tunisian civil society to continue and further the country’s transition towards democracy under difficult domestic and regional circumstances. We would like to sincerely congratulate the National Dialogue Quartet as well as our Tunisian friends and project partners on this award. In particular we would like to mention the Arab Institute for Human Rights (AIHR) which itself was founded as policy and advocacy-oriented NGO by the Tunisian Human Rights League, the Union des Tunisiens Indépendants pour la Liberté (UTIL) as well as the numerous participants from Tunisian civil society, media, academia, private sector and politics who are contributing to our various activities.

The Nobel Prize should also be considered recognition of the dedication and the commitment of the Tunisian society to overcoming political turbulences through negotiation and compromise and to building and consolidating a new political system in Tunisia. It should give hope to Tunisia and remind the international community to assist the country and the region in theses difficult times.