Nobel Women's Initiative
Subscribe Donate
  • Home
  • Who We Are

    Since 2006 we have worked in solidarity with women's movements, organizations, and activists around the world to build peace, defend justice, and champion equality for all.
    • The Laureates

      • Rigoberta Menchú Tum
      • Jody Williams
      • Shirin Ebadi
      • Leymah Gbowee
      • Tawakkol Karman
    • The Board

      • Profiles
    • Supporters

      • Individual and institutional donors
    • Staff

      • Profiles
  • What We Do

    Nobel Women's Initiative delivers programs, events, training, mentorship, advocacy and campaigns.
    • Programs

      • 16 Days of Activism
      • When Feminists Rule the World - Podcast
      • Sister to Sister Mentorship Program
      • Interview Her
      • Unfinished Revolution
    • Projects

      • Transition and Renewal
      • Multimedia
    • Events

      • Conferences & Meetings
      • Delegations
    • News & Information

      • Media Releases & Statements
      • Annual & Thematic Reports
      • Blog
  • Our Approach

    This is why and how we work to increase the visibility of women striving for peace, justice and equality.
    • About Us

      • The change we want to create in the world
      • Vision, Mission, Values
      • Highlights of our Work
      • History & Background
    • What's Our Approach?

      • Investing in young women's power and leadership
      • Amplifying women's voices in the media
      • Ensuring women's influence in public policy
      • Supporting women's movement building
  • Get Involved

    Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on opportunities to join us in our work.
      • Donate
    • Work With Us

      • Jobs
Subscribe Donate
Shirin Ebadi  Iran, 2003

Shirin Ebadi

Iran, 2003

Shirin Ebadi, J.D., was awarded the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to promote human rights, in particular, the rights of women, children, and political prisoners in Iran. She is the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, and only the fifth Muslim to receive a Nobel Prize in any field.

Dr. Ebadi was the first woman to become a presiding Judge in Iran. She served as president of the city court of Tehran from 1975 to 1979. She, along with other women judges, was dismissed from that position after the Islamic Revolution in February 1979. She was made a clerk in the court she had once presided over, until she petitioned for early retirement. After obtaining her lawyer’s license in 1992, Dr. Ebadi set up private practice. As a lawyer, Dr. Ebadi has taken on many controversial cases defending political dissidents and as a result has been arrested numerous times.

"Human rights is a universal standard. It is a component of every religion and every civilization."

In addition to being an internationally-recognized advocate of human rights, she has also established many non-governmental organizations in Iran, including the Million Signatures Campaign, a campaign demanding an end to legal discrimination against women in Iranian law. Dr. Ebadi is also a university professor and often students from outside Iran take part in her human rights training courses. She has published over 70 articles and 13 books dedicated to various aspects of human rights, some of which have been published by UNICEF.  In 2004, she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.

In January 2006, along with sister Laureate Jody Williams, Dr. Ebadi took the lead in establishing the Nobel Women’s Initiative.

The Laureates

Rigoberta Menchú Tum

Guatemala

Jody Williams

USA

Leymah Gbowee

Liberia

Tawakkol Karman

Yemen

Related Links

Media Coverage

Nobel laureate Ebadi says Iran's 'revolutionary process' is irreversible. Reuters. 3 February 2023.

Rencontre avec Shirin Ebadi, prix Nobel de la paix : «On est obligés de faire cette révolution.» Charlie Hebdo. 18 January 2023.

Shirin Ebadi on the legal obstacles Iran’s protesters face. Economist, 16 November 2022

U.S/ Seeks Removal of Iran From U.N. Women's Rights Agency. New York Times, 2 November 2022

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Spotlight the Brave, Visionary Women of Ukraine And Launch 'Women Lead' Campaign. Forbes, 28 October 2022

'Iran will be democratic one day': Shirin Ebadi. DW, 23 October 2022

“They Want a Democracy”: Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi on Protests, Regime’s Future. Democracy Now, 20 October 2022

Shirin Ebadi: Women will open the gate to democracy in Iran. CNN, 7 October 2022

 

Nobel Women's Initiative

Contact Information

General Inquiries
Email:
Address:
261 Montreal Rd, Suite 310
Ottawa, ON K1L 8C7
Media Inquiries
Daina Ruduša
Email:

Join Us

  • Subscribe
  • Donate

Social media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Subscribe


© 2022 Nobel Women's Initiative

Sign in to control panel Created with NationBuilder Built by Progressive Nation
Loading…