(CHICAGO) The Chicago World Summit Host Committee today announced that President Bill Clinton will take part in the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Chicago this April 23 - 25. President Clinton, a long-time champion of human rights initiatives and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, will keynote the opening night dinner on Monday, April 23 at The Field Museum in Chicago.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Honorary Co-Chair of the 12th World Summit, and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Co-Chair of the 12th World Summit, will also address the crowd of approximately 700 guests.
"Chicago is honored to be the first North American city to host a summit of Nobel Peace Prize winners and we're honored to be joined by former President Bill Clinton," said Mayor Emanuel. "President Clinton has worked tirelessly around the world to improve lives, resolve conflicts, and bring prosperity. His commitment to justice and dignity for all people has made him a global leader in the fight for equal rights for all."
"The people of Illinois are proud to welcome leaders who have done so much to champion freedom and human rights around the world, especially President Clinton," Governor Quinn said. "It is my hope that this gathering will inspire others to take up the cause and make a difference in their country, their business and their community."
The Chicago Host Committee also confirmed a number of high-profile personalities set to moderate the six panel discussions with the Nobel Laureates during the event, including:
¢ Chris Jansing, anchor and host of "Jansing and Co.," MSNBC
¢ Jim Frederick, managing editor, TIME International
¢ Jim Wooten, senior correspondent, ABC News
¢ Doug Brinkley, contributing editor, Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Times Book Review and American Heritage
The World Summit, themed "Speak Up, Speak Out for Freedom and Rights," will feature moderated discussions with Nobel Peace Laureates in front of a live audience and webcast around the world, providing a rare opportunity for audience members to observe and engage the world's most notable figures in a discussion on global peace and human rights.
A list of Laureates participating in the 12th World Summit in Chicago is available at: www.nobelsummitchicago.org/laureates
The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates is internationally recognized as among the most important annual events in the field of peacemaking, attracting Nobel Peace Laureates and high-profile leaders and organizations from around the globe. The Summit is organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates on a yearly basis in partnership with a host city.
The World Summit is chaired by the former Soviet President and Nobel Peace Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev and co-chaired by former Mayor of Rome, Hon. Walter Veltroni. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel will serve as the Summit's Honorary Co-Chair. The Chicago Host Committee is co-chaired by Illinois Governor Pat Quinn; Chris Kennedy, chairman of Joseph P. Kennedy Enterprises; Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights; Terry Mazany, president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust; and Michael Sacks, CEO of Grosvenor Capital Management and vice chairman of World Business Chicago.
For more information on the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, please visit www.nobelsummitchicago.org . Follow the Summit on Twitter at@nobelforpeace and on Facebook at facebook.com/nobelforpeace .
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The Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates together with the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, The Chicago Community Trust, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, City of Chicago and World Business Chicago are collaborating to organize the 12th World Summit. For a full list of sponsors, please visit: www.nobelsummitchicago.org/supporters
