IN FOCUS: Nobel Prize given to UN, Kofi Annan

UN's Nobel Prize record

Click here to find out why the Nobel Committee selected the UN and Kofi Annan for the 2001 award, and to learn more about previous UN winners:
 1988 - UN peacekeeping
1981 - UN refugee agency
1969 - UN labour agency
1965 - UNICEF
1961 - UN Secretary-General
1954 - UN refugee agency
1950 - UN Middle East mediator


Membership of 2001 Nobel Committee

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee of five people, appointed by the Norwegain parliament. The Nobel Committee is independent and receives no instructions or directives in its assessment of nominations for awards.
List of Committee members


Previous winners


'96 co-winner Ramos-Horta

Since 1901, the prize has been awarded to those who have made major contributions to the struggle for world peace.
Full list
 

UN, Annan receive Nobel Peace Prize at award's centennial ceremony in Oslo
10 December - Hailed for "their work for a better organized and more peaceful world," the United Nations and its Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, today received Nobel Peace Prize for 2001, the year marking the 100th anniversary of the venerated award.
Mr. Annan and Mr. Han accept Nobel Prize (Photo: AP)

Nobel Peace Prize to UN and Secretary-General an "honour and challenge," Annan says
12 October 2001 – Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who today was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with the United Nations, said the honour "challenges us to do more and to do better, not to rest on our laurels."

Annan speaking to press

Annan congratulates staff on receipt of Nobel Peace Prize, urges further action
12 October 2001 – Kofi Annan today congratulated UN staff in New York on their Nobel award.
Kofi and Nane Annan with UN staff
Welcoming Nobel Peace Prize, UN officials praise Annan's leadership 		 

Nobel Lecture by
Secretary-General Kofi Annan

Other statements:
 - Security Council - 12 Oct. 2001
- General Assembly - 12 Oct. 2001
- Press conference - 12 Oct. 2001


How is the Prize awarded?

Click here to learn how the Nobel Committee, located in Oslo, Norway, decides who wins the Peace Prize.

Kofi Annan biography

Kofi Annan of Ghana is the UN's seventh Secretary-General, and the first to be elected from the ranks of UN staff. He began his first term on 1 January 1997.

On 29 June 2001, acting on a recommendation by the Security Council, the General Assembly appointed him by acclamation to a second term of office, beginning on 1 January 2002 and ending on 31 December 2006.

Full biography

Photos of Annan

Click here to view images from Secretary-General Kofi Annan's official visits in 2001.
This web page is for information purposes only and is not an official UN document.