Tunisia’s National Dialogue Quartet won the Nobel Peace Prize for its contribution to building democracy after the Jasmine Revolution in 2011. Formed in the summer of 2013, it helped support the democratisation process in Tunisia when it was in danger of collapsing, said the committee.The quartet is comprised of the Tunisian General Labour Union; the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts; the Tunisian Human Rights League; and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers.
It was created in 2013, two years after the revolution, when security in the country was threatened following the assassination of two key politicians and deadly clashes between Islamists and secular parts of society. Tunisia’s uprising was the first and most successful of the Arab Spring. While other countries – Libya, Egypt, Yemen and Syria – either reverted to authoritarian rule or descended into violence and chaos, only Tunisia has managed a successful transition to democracy.
Nobel committee chairman Kaci Kullman Five said the group was instrumental in enabling Tunisia to establish a constitutional system of government “guaranteeing fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political conviction or religious belief”.
Malala Yousafzai, 18, became the youngest ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. The Pakistani activist, writer and survivor of a Taliban attack on her life was jointly awarded the prize with the Indian child rights campaigner Kailash Satyarthi.
Test Your GK
What is the capital of Tunisia?
What is the currency of Tunisia?
