London-based Irene Khan was awarded the prize for her courageous advocacy of human rights and her skills in highlighting violence against women as a massive injustice on Wednesday.

She has been the secretary-general of Amnesty International since August 2001 and is also the first Asian and Muslim to hold the post.

"The peace prize jury recognised the significance of Ms Khan's efforts to eliminate violence towards women, whether that violence was caused by poverty, by men's abusive power, by cultural norms or religious traditions," Sydney Peace Prize foundation director Professor Stuart Rees said.

"We are also impressed by her diversity - someone who was brought up as a Muslim in Bangladesh, who has married into another culture, who was educated in three different countries and who has served the United Nations for Refugees for over 20 years."

Khan received her award and delivered the Sydney Peace Prize lecture in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Previous winners of the prize include this year's Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Arundhati Roy and Sir William Deane.