In an unprecedented clarification addressing recent global developments, the Nobel Foundation has formally reaffirmed the immutable nature of Nobel Peace Prize awards. The January 16th declaration establishes that once conferred, the honor remains permanently attached to the original laureate regardless of subsequent disposition of physical prize components.
The Foundation’s statutory guidelines explicitly state that Peace Prize recognition cannot be revoked, shared, or transferred following official announcement. “A laureate cannot share the prize with others, nor transfer it once it has been announced. A Nobel Peace Prize can also never be revoked. The decision is final and applies for all time,” the official statement emphasized.
This clarification emerges amid heightened scrutiny of prize symbolism, particularly following Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s presentation of her physical medal to US President Donald Trump during January 16th White House discussions. While the gold medal itself changed hands, the Foundation’s position remains unambiguous: historical recognition remains exclusively with the original recipient.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee further clarified its institutional role, stating it “does not see it as their role to engage in day-to-day commentary on Peace Prize laureates or the political processes that they are engaged in.” The Committee emphasized that assessments focus exclusively on contributions existing at the time of selection, not subsequent actions or statements by awardees.
The Foundation’s intervention serves to protect the integrity of Alfred Nobel’s legacy, maintaining that physical transfer of medals or diplomas—though permissible—does not alter historical recordation of achievement. This position safeguards against potential misinterpretations of prize symbolism in evolving political contexts.
