Hiroshi Ishiguro
Distinguished Professor, University of Osaka | Father of Humanoid Androids | CEO, AVITA Inc. | Japan MOONSHOT R&D Project Manager
Shirin Ebadi
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (2003) | First Muslim Woman & First Iranian Nobel Laureate | Founder, Defenders of Human Rights Center | Lawyer, Author & Activist
Shirin Ebadi is the first Muslim woman and first Iranian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded for decades of fearless legal defense of women, children, and political prisoners in Iran. Forced into exile yet undeterred, she has become a global voice for human rights, the rule of law, and the role of women in peacebuilding. Audiences book Shirin Ebadi for moral clarity and lived expertise no other speaker can match.
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Shirin Ebadi biography
Human rights speaker Shirin Ebadi is the first Muslim woman and first Iranian to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded in 2003 for her pioneering legal defense of women, children, refugees, and political dissidents in Iran. Trained as a lawyer at the University of Tehran, speaker Shirin Ebadi became one of the country’s first female judges and rose to serve as president of the city court of Tehran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution forced women out of the judiciary.
Stripped of her judicial role, Ebadi rebuilt her career as a defense attorney, taking on the cases the regime preferred to bury: jailed journalists, persecuted students, and the families of murdered intellectuals. Her advocacy led to repeated arrests, surveillance, and the confiscation of her Nobel medal by Iranian authorities. Since 2009 she has lived in exile, continuing her work from abroad.
A Lifetime of Defending the Defenseless
Ebadi founded the Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran and co-founded the Nobel Women’s Initiative, which unites women Nobel Peace laureates to strengthen global movements for justice and gender equality. She launched the One Million Signatures Campaign to end legal discrimination against Iranian women and has lectured at universities and international institutions across the world.
She is the author of thirteen books, including the memoirs Iran Awakening and Until We Are Free, which document her decades-long confrontation with one of the world’s most repressive governments — and its effort to silence her by targeting her marriage, her colleagues, her family, and her freedom.
As a speaker, Shirin Ebadi delivers something audiences rarely hear from a stage: moral authority earned at personal cost. She speaks on the future of Iran, the role of women in peacebuilding, the relationship between Islam and human rights, and the responsibility of free societies to defend those who cannot speak freely. Her presence is a reminder that the rule of law is never abstract, and that courage, not power, ultimately bends history.
Shirin Ebadi Speaking Videos
My Truth and Other Versions by Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi | Warwick Economics Summit 2020
Shirin Ebadi Keynote Topics
Drawing on her memoirs Iran Awakening and Until We Are Free, Shirin Ebadi shares the personal story of defending human rights inside one of the world's most repressive systems. From her early years as a judge to her work as a defense lawyer for political prisoners, journalists, and persecuted minorities, she traces a path of courage in the face of intimidation, imprisonment, and exile. The talk is both a chronicle of resistance and a clear-eyed reflection on what it takes to defend the rule of law when institutions are bent against it.
Ebadi argues that durable peace is impossible without the full participation of women in negotiations, political institutions, and post-conflict societies. Drawing on her work with the Nobel Women's Initiative and her direct experience defending women in Iran, she explores how gender equality is not a side issue to peace and security but one of its preconditions. Audiences leave with a deeper understanding of why investing in women is the most reliable path to stability.
As a Muslim, a lawyer, and a human rights advocate, Ebadi offers a perspective rarely heard in Western forums: that the values of human rights, dignity, and equality are fully compatible with Islam, and that authoritarian regimes who claim otherwise are weaponizing faith for political ends. The keynote unpacks misconceptions about Islam, women, and law, and provides a framework for engaging with religious societies on universal rights.
What does the rule of law mean when courts are politicized, dissent is criminalized, and lawyers are jailed for representing their clients? Ebadi answers from direct experience. She analyzes how authoritarian systems erode legal protections, why an independent civil society remains the most resilient defense, and what democratic societies abroad can do to support those fighting from inside closed regimes.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Shirin Ebadi
Why Shirin Ebadi?
Shirin Ebadi brings to the stage a level of moral authority almost no other speaker can offer: as the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the first female judge in Iran, and a lawyer who has defended political prisoners at enormous personal cost. Her talks combine first-hand history, legal expertise, and a quiet, deeply credible call to conscience that shifts the room. Senior audiences come away thinking about leadership, integrity, and responsibility in a different light. Book Shirin Ebadi through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring a Nobel laureate's perspective on human rights, justice, and courage to your next event.
Why did Shirin Ebadi win the Nobel Peace Prize?
Shirin Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her pioneering legal defense of human rights — particularly the rights of women, children, refugees, and political dissidents in Iran. She was the first Muslim woman and the first Iranian to receive the prize. The Nobel Committee recognized her decades of work as a lawyer and activist, often conducted under personal risk and government surveillance, advancing democracy and the rule of law inside one of the most restrictive legal environments in the world.
Where does Shirin Ebadi live now?
Shirin Ebadi has lived in exile from Iran since 2009, when escalating threats and the confiscation of her Nobel medal by the Iranian government made it unsafe to return. She has continued her advocacy from Europe, lecturing at universities, advising international human rights bodies, and leading the Defenders of Human Rights Center remotely. Despite her exile, Iran remains the central focus of her writing, speeches, and legal work.
What audiences book Shirin Ebadi as a keynote speaker?
Shirin Ebadi speaks regularly at universities, governments, multilateral institutions, women's leadership forums, law firms, and corporate events focused on values, human rights, and global affairs. She is most often booked for keynotes on the future of Iran, women in peacebuilding, the rule of law under authoritarianism, and Islam and human rights. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Shirin Ebadi to your stage and design a keynote tailored to your audience and event theme.
How to book Shirin Ebadi as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Shirin Ebadi as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Shirin Ebadi's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Shirin Ebadi or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Shirin Ebadi speaking fee?
Shirin Ebadi speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Shirin Ebadi to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Shirin Ebadi.
How can I contact Shirin Ebadi?
We only work with Shirin Ebadi on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Shirin Ebadi and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Shirin Ebadi speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Shirin Ebadi for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Shirin Ebadi for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Shirin Ebadi is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Shirin Ebadi for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
