Nobel Peace Prize Winners

Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo poses for a photographer in this April 2008 photo. Imprisoned Liu won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, Oct. 8, 2010, for "his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights," a prize likely to enrage the Chinese government, which had warned the Nobel committee not to honor him.

Barack Obama (2009)

The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to President Barack Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples." He is only the third sitting president to receive the honor (Theodore Roosevelt was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906, and Woodrow Wilson received it in 1919).

Martti Ahtisaari (2008)

Martti Ahtisaari, former president of Finland, was selected "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts." He is seen here posing with his medal and diploma at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony at City Hall in Oslo, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008.

Al Gore and the U.N.'s IPCC (2007)

Former Vice President Al Gore, left, and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) jointly won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to spread awareness of man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for fighting it. Rajendra K Pachauri, right, is head of the IPCC.

Muhammad Yunus (2006)

Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus addresses a press conference in Dhaka, Friday, Oct. 13, 2006, after receiving the news of his award. The economics professor began fighting poverty during a devastating famine in Bangladesh, setting up the tiny Grameen Bank in 1976 to provide access to credit to people too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans.

Mohamed ElBaradei (2005)

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, right, accepts his prize from Ole Danbolt Mjs, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee at City Hall in Oslo, Norway, Saturday, Dec. 10, 2005. ElBaradei shared the award with his International Atomic Energy Agency for efforts to control the spread of nuclear weapons.

Wangari Maathai (2004)

Kenyan environmental activist Wangari Maathai won the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her work as leader of the Green Belt Movement, which has sought to empower women, improve the environment and fight corruption in Africa for almost 30 years. Maathai is seen here speaking on the phone after learning she'd won the honor, Oct 8, 2004, in Ihururu, Kenya.

Shirin Ebadi (2003)

Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi was awarded the Nobel peace prize "for her efforts for democracy and human rights." Ebadi, right, is pictured accepting the award from committee chairman Ole Danbolt Mjos, Dec. 10, 2003, in Oslo, Norway.

Jimmy Carter (2002)

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was selected "for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter is pictured in a July 8, 2002 file photo.

United Nations and Kofi Annan (2001)

The prize was split between the United Nations and its secretary-general, Kofi Annan, of Ghana, "for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world." U.N. General Assembly President Han Seung-soo, right, and Annan are pictured at the Nobel Peace Awards ceremony at Oslo City Hall, Dec. 10, 2001, in Oslo, Norway.

Kim Dae-jung (2000)

South Korean President Kim Dae-jung was selected "for his work for democracy and human rights in South Korea and in East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North Korea in particular." Kim, right, is pictured during an audience with Norwegian King Harald, Dec. 10, 2000, in Oslo, Norway.

Medecins Sans Frontieres (1999)

Medical relief agency M

John Hume and David Trimble (1998)

The prize was split between John Hume, a moderate Catholic leader, and David Trimble, leader of the Protestant Ulster Unionists, for their efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland. Trimble is pictured at left shaking hands with Hume on the eve of the Northern Ireland Referendum, May 21, 1998. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is at center.

International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Jody Williams (1997)

The prize was split between the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the campaign's coordinator, American Jody Williams, "for their work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines." Pictured is Tun Channareth, a Cambodian who lost both legs to a land mine, after accepting the award on behalf of the organization, Dec. 10, 1997.

Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and Jose Ramos-Horta (1996)

The prize was split between Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and advocate Jose Ramos-Horta, both of East Timor, for their work toward ending the conflict there. Ximenes Belo, right, and Ramos-Horta are pictured during the Nobel Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 1996.

Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs (1995)

The prize was split between British atomic scientist Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, "for their efforts to diminish the part played by nuclear arms in international politics and, in the longer run, to eliminate such arms." Rotblat is pictured accepting his award Dec. 10, 1995, in Oslo, Norway.

Yasser Arafat and Shimon Peres (1994)

The prize was split among Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israel's Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin "for their efforts to create peace in the Middle East." Peres, with an unidentified aide, is pictured signing the agreement at the White House, Sept. 13, 1993. Looking on from left are Rabin, U.S. President Bill Clinton and Arafat.

Nelson Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk (1993)

The prize was split between South African leaders Nelson R. Mandela and Frederik Willem de Klerk "for their work for the peaceful termination of the apartheid regime, and for laying the foundations for a new democratic South Africa." De Klerk, right, and Mandela are seen posing with their prizes in Oslo, Norway, Dec. 10, 1993.

Rigoberta Menchu (1992)

Guatemalan Indian rights advocate Rigoberta Mench

Aung San Suu Kyi (1991)

Activist Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar (Burma) was selected "for her non-violent struggle for democracy and human rights." Suu Kyi is seen here speaking to reporters during a press conference in Rangoon, Burma, March 4, 1997.

Mikhail Gorbachev (1990)

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was selected "for his leading role in the peace process which today characterizes important parts of the international community." Gorbachev is seen here bowing his head in the Congress of People's Deputies shortly after Foreign Minister Edvard Shevardnadze announced his plan to resign, in Moscow, Dec. 20, 1990.