MSF wins Nobel Peace Prize

Medecins Sans Frontieres logo
Medecins Sans Frontieres logo

Medecins Sans Frontieres has won the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of its “pioneering humanitarian work on several continents.”

In announcing the award, the Norwegian Nobel Committee stated “by intervening so rapidly, Médecins Sans Frontières calls public attention to humanitarian catastrophes, and by pointing to the causes of such catastrophes, the organisation helps to form bodies of public opinion opposed to violations and abuses of power.”

The prize is accompanied by an award of about $960,000.

Past organisational winners

Previous charity and NGO winners of the Nobel Peace Prize include:

  • 1997: International Campaign to Ban Landmines
  • 1995: Pugwash Conferences on Science and Public Affairs
  • 1988: United Nations Peacekeeping Forces
  • 1985: International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War
  • 1981: UNHCR
  • 1977: Amnesty International
  • 1969: International Labour Organisation
  • 1965: UNICEF
  • 1963: International Committee of the Red Cross and League of Red Cross Societies

WATCH: MSF International President reacts to the Nobel Peace Prize