Last month, I joined 80 parliamentarians from 10 different countries in nominating the White Helmets in Syria for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize.

Over the 5 years of a brutal conflict that has claimed the lives of over 400,000 people, the White Helmets have been following the bombs into wreckage to save lives.

Unarmed and impartial, these volunteers were bakers, engineers, painters and students before this conflict began.  Now, they deliver essential public services, secure buildings following a bombing, and provide emergency healthcare.  It’s estimated that they have saved over 60,000 lives since the conflict began.

Their nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize is also a fitting tribute to my friend and colleague, Jo Cox.  She tirelessly championed their work, consistently campaigning for greater protection for humanitarian aid workers and a lasting political solution.  She too nominated the White Helmets earlier this year, and encouraged us all to do the same.

You can find out more about the work of the White Helmets here