Wiesel won the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize . The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised his message `` of peace , atonement and human dignity '' to humans . When Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986 , the Norwegian Nobel Committee called him a `` messenger to mankind '' , stating that through his struggle to come to terms with `` his own personal experience of total humiliation and of the utter contempt for humanity shown in Hitler 's death camps '' , as well as his `` practical work in the cause of peace '' , Wiesel had delivered a powerful message `` of peace , atonement and human dignity '' to humanity .