Ugandan Lawyer, Victor Ochen nominated for 2015 Nobel Peace Prize

Ugandan lawyer, Victor Ochen has been nominated for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize.

Ochen is the youngest African to be nominated in the history of the prize. He is the founder of the African Youth Initiative Network organization, and is credited with effecting and engaging people in the transactional Justice process, promoting youth leadership and promoting human rights in Northern Uganda.

The organization launched in 2005, has been very active in the restoration of the functionality of children afflicted by the war and has also worked towards the mobilization of the youth and communities in participating in promoting peace and justice.

Ochen’s nomination comes on the heels of recent commendation from UNESCO. His African Youth Initiative Network was recognized by United Nations body as a model for promoting the culture of Peace in Africa.

According to the nomination’s committee, “Victor Ochen shown commitment and effectiveness in his efforts to address the needs of victims. He has worked for transitional justice, while simultaneously promoting human rights through nonviolent means, nourishing the leadership skills of other young people, and challenging systemic issues that lead to the continued vulnerability and suffering of war victims.”

He has been working directly with victims of brutalities suffered during the time of the war, offering psycho-social rehabilitation to those who bore the harshest brunt of the atrocities, including his own family.