Friday was the nomination deadline for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. One of the hottest candidates is a 15-year-old student from Pakistan.
Last year, 231 candidates from all over the world were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. On March 1, the five members of committee will have to reduce this year's list of candidates down to a shortlist of 25-30.
The director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Kristian Berg Harpviken, has created his own shortlist, and Malala Yousufzai is right at the top.
Three government representatives from the Labor Party have nominated the 15-year-old girl for her work to improve children's rights, and especially girls' rights to education.
Yousufzai became known around the world last year when the Taliban shot her after she criticized the Islamist group in her blog. She is a unique girl. It would be a bold choice, but the committee has previously shown that they are not scared of choosing a controversial candidate, Harpviken tells Aftenposten.
Several other Norwegian government representatives have nominated Russian peace activists who work for a more democratic and open Russia. The Nobel Institute will release the total number of nominees in March.
(Aftenposten)
Julie Ryland
The Norwegian Nobel Committee will on Friday announce the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2009. There were 209 nominations for this year's prize, a new record. More later...