Adolfo Pérez Esquivel

Facts

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel

Photo from the Nobel Foundation archive.

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
The Nobel Peace Prize 1980

Born: 26 November 1931, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Residence at the time of the award: Argentina

Role: Artist and Peace Activist

Prize motivation: “for being a source of inspiration to repressed people, especially in Latin America”

Prize share: 1/1

Artist and Peace Activist

Following the military coup in 1976, Argentina was a violent dictatorship for five years. It was during that period that the Roman Catholic Adolfo Pérez Esquivel became known as a human rights activist and opponent of all violence. His commitment could be traced right back to the 1960s, when he had worked for social development by means of nonviolent liberation.

In the 1970s, Esquivel headed the Latin American human rights organization SERPAJ. Abandoning a university career, he traveled around Latin America building networks. In 1977 he was arrested, imprisoned and tortured by the Argentina's military rulers. He was only released after 14 months, when the pressure from his friends became too great.

In 1980 the Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasized that Esquivel through his courageous nonviolent struggle had lit a light in the darkness of Argentina's violence. His work was an inspiration to oppressed people all over the world.

To cite this section
MLA style: Adolfo Pérez Esquivel – Facts. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2024. Tue. 19 Mar 2024. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1980/esquivel/facts/>

Back to top Back To Top Takes users back to the top of the page

Nobel Prizes and laureates

Eleven laureates were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2023, for achievements that have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. Their work and discoveries range from effective mRNA vaccines and attosecond physics to fighting against the oppression of women.

See them all presented here.
Illustration

Explore prizes and laureates

Look for popular awards and laureates in different fields, and discover the history of the Nobel Prize.