Shirin Ebadi wins the Nobel Prize

Shirin EbadiIranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi, a human rights and democracy activist, won the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Friday for her focus on human rights, especially on the struggle for the rights of women and children.

Ms. Ebadi won from a record field of 165 candidates, including Pope John Paul and former Czech President Vaclav Havel.

The committee calls her "a sound professional, a courageous person" who has "never heeded threats to her own safety".

"We hope that the prize will be an inspiration for all those who struggle for human rights and democracy in her country, in the Muslim world, and in all countries where the fight for human rights needs inspiration and support," the committee said.

"It's very good for me, very good for human rights in Iran, good for democracy in Iran and especially children's rights in Iran," said the 56-year-old lawyer.

The Nobel prize is worth $US1.32 million and will be handed out in Oslo on December 10.

Ms. Ebadi is only the 11th woman to win since the prize was set up in 1901.

No Iranian has previously won the prize.

Former US President Jimmy Carter won in 2002, and the United Nations and secretary-general Kofi Annan won in 2001.

The last women to win the prize were Jody Williams, the coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines in 1997, Guatemalan human rights leader Rigoberta Menchu in 1992 and Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 1991.