What is the Nobel Prize? 

The Nobel Prize is a set of international awards given every year in a few fields: Physics, Chemistry, Medicine (or Physiology), Literature — and Peace.  The prizes were established based on the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor and industrialist.  According to his will, the awards should go to those “who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”  For the Peace Prize in particular, it is given to individuals (or organizations) whose work helps promote peace — e.g. reducing armed conflict, promoting democracy and human rights, encouraging peaceful cooperation among nations, or working toward disarmament.  

Over time, the Nobel Prize has become one of the highest global honours — a symbol of recognition and respect for extraordinary contributions to science, culture, and humanity. 

 

Nobel Peace Prize how it works 

The Peace Prize is awarded each year by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, typically in Oslo, Norway.  The Committee reviews nominations from a wide group that can include past laureates, professors, politicians, and others. Based on those, they select one (or sometimes more) person or group.  The award includes a medal, a diploma, and a cash prize (in 2025, the prize money for the Peace Prize is 11.1 million Swedish kronor).  The ceremony for the Peace Prize is held on 10 December — the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death.  

The Peace Prize — along with the other Nobel Prizes — recognizes not only scientific or artistic achievements but also efforts that strengthen human dignity, rights, democracy, and social justice. 

 Who are “laureates”? “Laureate” is the term used for a person or organization that has received a Nobel Prize. So any winner of a Nobel Prize — whether in peace, physics, medicine, literature — is a laureate. For example, in 2025, the Peace Prize laureate is María Corina Machado.  Laureates often become globally recognized for their work; their stories highlight human struggles, achievements, and values worth celebrating. 

María Corina Machado — the 2025 Peace Prize laureate Who is she? María Corina Machado is a Venezuelan politician and opposition leader.  She studied engineering and finance, and briefly worked in business.  In 1992, she started the Atenea Foundation to help street children in Caracas.  Later, she co-founded a group called Súmate, which worked for fair elections and monitored voting.  In 2010 she was elected to Venezuela’s National Assembly, with record votes — but was removed from office in 2014 by the regime.  She leads the opposition party Vente Venezuela and has been a major political voice against the authoritarian government in Venezuela.  

Over decades, she became a unifying figure for pro-democracy forces in Venezuela, trying to give a voice to millions frustrated by authoritarianism, economic collapse, and forced emigration.  

 🕊️ Why she got the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize The 2025 Peace Prize was awarded to her for “tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”  Key reasons given: She resisted authoritarian rule and worked for fair, free elections.  She helped unite a fragmented opposition in a country suffering political repression, human rights abuses, and economic crisis — giving many Venezuelans hope for a democratic future.  Her activism — even under threat — embodied civilian courage. 

The Nobel Committee 

described her as “one of the most extraordinary examples of civilian courage in Latin America in recent times.In short: in a difficult environment, she championed democracy without resorting to violence — a principle very much in line with what the Peace Prize stands for.  

 What happened in 2025: the award & the ceremony On 10 October 2025, the Committee announced that María Corina Machado would receive the Peace Prize for 2025.  The official ceremony was scheduled for 10 December 2025, in Oslo, Norway.  Because she has been living in hiding for her safety — due to political threats in Venezuela — she could not attend the ceremony in person.  Her daughter, Ana Corina Sosa Machado (often called Ana Corina Sosa), accepted the award on her behalf.  In her acceptance speech, Sosa said that the prize reaffirmed that “democracy is essential for peace,” and dedicated the honour to Venezuelans who suffered under repression.  

This — awarding the Peace Prize to a person living under threat, who couldn’t be present — is not unprecedented. Previous laureates also sometimes could not attend because of imprisonment, exile, or other dangers.  

 Why this matters — for Venezuela and the world For many Venezuelans, this recognition is a symbol of hope. The award brings global attention to years of political repression, economic collapse, human rights abuses, and mass migration. It strengthens the message that peaceful civic action — voting, protests, demand for rights — can matter, even under dictatorship. Internationally, it sends a signal: democracy and human rights remain central to peace. The Nobel Committee recognized that when authoritarian regimes tighten their hold, those who fight for core human freedoms deserve global support.  It may inspire similar struggles elsewhere — showing that global institutions like the Nobel Prize can spotlight local fights for justice, giving dissidents hope and moral strength.

What the Nobel Prizes (all of them) represent

 Although Peace Prize often grabs headlines, the other Nobel Prizes also contribute to humanity in big ways: The Physics, Chemistry and Medicine/Physiology prizes honor breakthroughs that deepen our understanding of the universe or improve human health. The Literature Prize celebrates writers whose words shape our thoughts, cultures, and empathy. All Nobel laureates — scientists, writers, activists — represent human potential: creativity, courage, compassion, curiosity. 

Through these awards, the legacy of Alfred Nobel lives on: turning wealth and fame into a force that rewards ideas and deeds for the “greatest benefit to humankind.”