“I would like to congratulate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Roberta Gbowee and Tawakkul Karman on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. These three women are worthy laureates of outstanding merit. All three have worked tirelessly in the face of opposition and at personal risk to help ensure that people can live in dignity and freedom.
Their efforts to defend women’s and human rights have made them role models far beyond their home countries. I have great respect for these courageous women. They truly deserve this honour.”