Maria Ressa the First Filipino Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Maria Ressa has become the first Filipino to be awarded a Nobel peace prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa for her “courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines”.

According to the statement of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, Ressa used freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence, and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines.  In addition, Maria Ressa and the digital media company, Rappler, which she co-founded, have documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents and manipulate public discourse.

BREAKING NEWS:
The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.#NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize pic.twitter.com/KHeGG9YOTT

— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 8, 2021

Maria Ressa shares the Nobel Peace Prize with another courageous journalist, Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov. He founded the newspaper Novaja Gazeta in 1993 and it is considered to be the most independent newspaper in Russia today. The committee recognized Muratov for maintaining the independence of the newspaper.

In the official statement by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov underscores the protecting and defending of freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and freedom of information.

Without freedom of expression and freedom of the press, it will be difficult to successfully promote fraternity between nations, disarmament and a better world order to succeed in our time. This year’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize is therefore firmly anchored in the provisions of Alfred Nobel’s will.

 
Source:
Nobel Prize
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