The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan politician and long-time advocate of democracy and civil liberties. 

• The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognised her for her “extraordinary civilian courage in leading Venezuela’s democracy movement” amid decades of authoritarian rule under Presidents Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro.
• Machado, often called the “Iron Lady of Venezuela,” symbolizes peaceful resistance in one of Latin America’s most repressive political environments.

About the Nobel Peace Prize

• The Nobel Peace Prize was established in 1901 under the will of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish industrialist and inventor of dynamite. 
• It is awarded annually by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions to peace, human rights, and international cooperation.
• The Peace Prize is distinct in being presented in Oslo, Norway, while other Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden.
• So far, over 110 Nobel Peace Prizes have been awarded to 142 laureates (including individuals and organisations). 
  • Notable recipients include Martin Luther King Jr. (1964), Nelson Mandela (1993), Malala Yousafzai (2014), and Nadia Murad (2018).

2024 Nobel Peace Prize Winner

• The 2024 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian human rights activist, for her fearless fight against the oppression of women in Iran and advocacy for freedom of expression. 
• She is currently imprisoned in Iran, and her award was seen as a global acknowledgment of the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement.

Indian Winners of the Nobel Peace Prize

India has produced two Nobel Peace laureates so far:

• Mother Teresa (1979): For her humanitarian work through the Missionaries of Charity.
• Kailash Satyarthi (2014): For his decades-long campaign against child labour and advocacy for children’s rights.

About Maria Corina Machado

• Born in Caracas in 1967, Maria Corina Machado is an industrial engineer and one of Venezuela’s most prominent opposition leaders. 
• She founded Súmate, an NGO that monitored elections and promoted voter participation, in 2002 — during Venezuela’s turbulent political phase under Hugo Chávez.

Her Key Contributions:

• Champion of Democracy: Machado has been at the forefront of the movement to restore democratic institutions in Venezuela through peaceful, electoral means — a commitment she calls “ballots over bullets.”
• Election Transparency: Through Súmate, she mobilised citizens to observe and document elections, exposing voter fraud and authoritarian excesses.
• Peaceful Resistance: Despite threats, arrests, and disqualification from contesting elections, she continues to lead a peaceful resistance against Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
• Empowerment and Civil Courage: Machado has unified Venezuela’s fragmented opposition, inspiring large-scale civic engagement, especially among youth and women.

The Nobel Committee highlighted her “commitment to democratic transition through non-violence and truth”, comparing her legacy to that of Aung San Suu Kyi and Lech Wałęsa in earlier decades.

Why Does It Matters?

The award to Machado comes at a time when democratic backsliding and authoritarian populism are resurging globally. It underscores the importance of peaceful civil resistance and electoral integrity as foundations of peace.

For Venezuela — once one of Latin America’s richest democracies but now in deep economic and political crisis — the award symbolises international solidarity with its citizens struggling for freedom.

MCQ

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize:

1. The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Maria Corina Machado for her peaceful struggle to restore democracy in Venezuela.
2. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, under the supervision of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
3. India’s first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Mother Teresa in 1979 for her humanitarian service.
4. Narges Mohammadi of Iran won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for her work on child rights.

Which of the statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer: (a)

SOURCE