Instant Respect, a Door-opener, Even Life-saver

Professor Wangari Maathai (2004 laureate)

Kenyan environmentalist

"The Nobel peace prize gave me a great sense of accomplishment, but also set me a major challenge. Now that I am recognised, I have to live up to the high standards the prize has set. A tremendous amount is expected of you, not just from Kenyans, but from the international community. The prize has given me greater influence in government. Cabinet members have great respect for it and they see me as a Nobel laureate, not just as a junior minister [Prof Maathai is assistant minister for environment and natural resources]."

The Dalai Lama (1989)

"I had a discussion with Desmond Tutu, the 1984 winner, about whether the Nobel peace prize was still relevant. He told me: 'Before the prize, when I tried to call the White House, I could never get through. Afterwards, I was put straight through to the president'."

Amnesty International (1977)

Secretary general Dr Irene Khan

"Before the prize, we had to write letters to governments starting 'As you may know ...', explaining who we were. Afterwards, we didn't have to. The award gave us credibility, recognition and respectability. It put human rights on the international political agenda and showed its link with peace. We were able to do our work with less threat, because governments are wary to touch an organisation that has won the Nobel peace prize. It's still useful to us: when we deal with countries like China, Iran or Libya, they recognise us as respectable."

Unicef (1965)

Damien Personnaz, its spokesman in Geneva

"More power, more access, more recognition. A Nobel peace prize is like a good passport with the right visa. Winning the award meant that children became priorities for governments. In the 1960s, the prize was especially important when talking to emerging nations."

Lech Walesa (1983 laureate)

"The prize saved my life. Without it, I don't know if I would have survived or would have had the career I've enjoyed."