Tawakkol Karman — Nobel Peace Prize lecture (2011)

I have always believed that resistance against repression and violence is possible without relying on similar repression and violence. I have always believed that human civilization is the fruit of the effort of both women and men. So, when women are treated unjustly and are deprived of their natural right in this process, all social deficiencies and cultural illnesses will be unfolded […] The solution to women's issues can only be achieved in a free and democratic society in which human energy is liberated, the energy of both women and men together.

Peace within one country is no less important than peace between countries. […] There is another type of war, which is far more bitter, that is the war of despotic leaders who oppress their own people. […] It is the war which today people face in the Arab States.

The revolutions of the Arab spring in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria, and the movement towards revolutions in other Arab countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Bahrain, Sudan and others […] The Arab people have woken up just to see how poor a share of freedom, democracy and dignity they have. And they revolted.

I, on behalf of the revolutionary youth, pledge to all people in the world that we are committed to peaceful struggle as a strategic option, without deviation or retreat, regardless of the sacrifices and regardless of the extent of state repression, killing and violence. […] [Our revolution] dreams of a free and democratic homeland with no room for tyranny, dictatorship, corruption or failure […] until the establishment of a democratic civil state, a state where the rule of law, equality and a peaceful transfer of power prevails.

The civilized world should, immediately after the outbreak of the revolutions of youth, commence the detention and freezing of the assets of the figures of the regime and its security and military officials. In fact this is not enough, since these people should be brought to justice before the International Criminal Court. There should be no immunity for killers who rob the food of the people.