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Three Women Jointly Receive the Nobel Peace Prize

(CNN) — Women’s rights took center stage Saturday at the Nobel ceremonies as three women recognized for their struggles against the backdrops of the Arab Spring and democratic progress in Africa accepted this year’s peace prize.

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Leymah Gbowee, a social worker and peace campaigner from the same country, shared the prize with Tawakkul Karman, an activist and journalist who this year played a key opposition role in Yemen.

The three were chosen for their non-violent struggle against injustice, sexual violence and repression.

“Ever since the Norwegian Nobel Committee made this year’s decision known, the people of Norway have looked forward to seeing you on this stage,” said Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

“You give concrete meaning to the Chinese proverb which says that ‘women hold up half the sky,’” he said. “We thank you for the hope you awaken in us all.”

Jagland said the work of the three laureates should serve as warning to dictators even as more civilians were killed Saturday in Syria.