The Guiding and Scouting movement, represented by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
This prestigious award goes to the person or organisation who has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
The nomination was submitted by Norwegian Liberal Party MP, Solveig Schytz, who is the former Chief Commissioner for the Norwegian Scout and Guide association, and Chair for The Guides and Scouts of Norway.
“I have been a part of the scouting and guiding movement since I was eight years old, and I am grateful. It`s about time the contribution of the Scouting and Guiding movement and young people around the world to building peace is recognized.,” Ms. Schytz told us.
“At a time when our world is threatened by so many international challenges, be climate, wars or the pandemics, we need a counterweight to egoism and nationalism. We need to offer young people a chance to rally around a set of common values and the belief in service, not only to one’s own community, but to international society.”
The nomination comes in the same year that WAGGGS is focussing its World Thinking Day activities on peacebuilding, where we will celebrate and amplify the story of those in our Movement who are building peace within their communities.
As a Movement of 10 million girls and young women in 152 countries, the work we do to build intercultural communication, understanding and collaboration is global.