Dharamsala, HP, India, 8 October 2011 - The spiritual leder of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has congratulated the 2011 Noble Peace Prize recipients - H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirlef, Ms. Leymah Gbowee and Ms. Tawakul Karman, for being jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
His Holiness went on to say that in the 21st century, we have an obligation to promote a new vision of society, one in which war has no place in resolving disputes among states, communities or individuals, but in which non-violence is the pre-eminent value in all human relations. He stressed that to achieve this, the role of women is crucially important.
His Holiness also wrote that he is convinced that even if only a few individuals work to create peace and act responsibly and kind-heartedly towards others, they will have a positive influence in their community. His Holiness said that the achievements of the Nobel Prize winners are evidence of this. They serve as an inspiration to others that, as well as being equally capable, women have an equal responsibility to take the lead.