Peace is described as the state that prevails in the absence of war or as harmonious relations. There are countless ways to achieve peace and the award has been given to many diverse groups and people. The first Nobel Peace Prize was shared by to Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross, and Frédéric Passy, a leading international pacifist of his time. The Prize has since awarded humanitarian work, human rights advocacy and mediation of international conflicts, arms control and disarmament.

South African Laureates:

Albert Luthuli, 1960

1960 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: President of the African National Congress in South Africa...read more.

Desmond Tutu, 1984

1984 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: Bishop of Johannesburg and former Secretary General South African Council of Churches (S.A.C.C.). For his work against apartheid...read more. Read his acceptance speech.

Excerpt from the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech:

We stand here today as nothing more than a representative of the millions of our people who dared to rise up against a social system whose very essence is war, violence, racism, oppression, repression and the impoverishment of an entire people.

FW de Klerk, 1993

1993 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Nelson Mandela, 1993

1993 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Read more about Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk's Nobel Peace Prize.

For the full list of all the Nobel Laureates in Peace .

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