WCC NEWS: WCC welcomes Nobel Peace Prize award to Maria Corina Machado

The World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed the news on 10 October that the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Maria Corina Machado.  The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado for her 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, 10 October 2025, Image: Nobel Peace Prize media 10 October 2025 Peter Prove,  director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, said:, “The WCC welcomes the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Corina Machado, a laureate whose life and career exemplify a courageous commitment to human rights and to democracy. These are values the WCC has sought to promote since its establishment, and which define the foundations of ecumenical social ethics.” Prove underlined: “This award helps support and amplify these principles at a time when they are under increasing pressure in many parts of the world. We extend our congratulations and solidarity to Ms Machado.” Maria Corina Machado has led the struggle for democracy in the face of ever-expanding authoritarianism in Venezuela. Machado studied engineering and finance, and had a short career in business. In 1992 she established the Atenea Foundation, which works to benefit street children in Caracas. Machado is receiving the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to advance democracy in Venezuela. The Nobel Peace Prize committee said in its announcement that the prize goes to a "woman who keeps the flame of democracy going, amidst a growing darkness.”   Maria Corina Machado – Facts – 2025 - NobelPrize.org Maria Corina Machado – Interview – 2025 - NobelPrize.org See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

WCC News: WCC applauds Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi

The World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed the news that the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Iranian women’s rights defender Narges Mohammadi.  Narges Mohammadi, laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize 2023 award. Image: Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach 06 October 2023 The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2023 to Narges Mohammadi for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all. The award of the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize to imprisoned Iranian women’s rights defender Narges Mohammadi serves to highlight the terrible personal costs born by many who courageously advocate for human rights in authoritarian contexts.  Welcoming the news, the WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay said: “The WCC congratulates Ms Narges Mohammadi for receiving this prestigious award. We are very strong in our support for gender justice, human rights, and human dignity, mindful of the ongoing struggles of women in the world. This award recognises not only the work of Ms Mohammadi in this area but highlights the issue of gender justice on a global level of importance it deserves. We offer our congratulations and best wishes to Ms Mohammadi.” With authoritarianism on the rise in many parts of the world today, women and girls have been heavily affected by regressive trends in many cases, and the situation of Narges Mohammadi is emblematic of the continuing and in some places increased challenges for the equal rights and dignity of women. The award to Narges Mohammadi follows a long tradition in which the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the Peace Prize to those working to advance social justice, human rights, and democracy as important preconditions for lasting peace. The Nobel Peace Prize 2023 See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland