On May 4, the Elliott School hosted 2003 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Shirin Ebadi for a lecture on “Human Rights, Women and Islam.” Ebadi – lawyer, judge, activist, and writer – received the Nobel Prize for her tireless efforts to promote human rights, especially for women, children, and political prisoners in Iran. The first Muslim woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, Ebadi was a guest speaker in GW’s Robert J. Pelosky, Jr., Distinguished Speaker Series.

Then, on May 5, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, accepted an honorary degree from GW for his lifelong dedication to public service. His address upon accepting the award launched the Elliott School’s new program, “The U.S. and the UN: Working Together in the 21st Century.”