In 1997, Jody Williams became the tenth woman in its almost 100-year history to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Organizer and activist, teacher and writer, she is an internationally recognized eloquent and inspirational speaker on the power of individuals to bring about dramatic change in the world.

Jody served as the founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) until February 1998.  Beginning in early 1992, with two non-governmental organizations and a staff of one, Williams oversaw ICBL's growth to over 1,300 organizations in 95 countries working to eliminate antipersonnel landmines. In an unprecedented cooperative effort with governments, UN bodies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, she served as chief strategist and spokesperson for the ICBL during the diplomatic conference in Oslo in September 1997 where the ICBL dramatically achieved its goal of an international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines.

Three weeks later, she and the ICBL were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Since February 1998, she has served as a Campaign Ambassador for the ICBL, speaking on its behalf all over the world.

Along with sister Laureate, Dr. Shirin Ebadi of Iran, Williams took the lead in establishing the Nobel Women's Initiative in January 2006.

In February through March of 2007, Williams led a High Level Mission on Darfur for the UN's Human Rights Council.  She presented the Mission's hard-hitting report to the Council in March and is now actively involved in issues related to stopping the war in Darfur.

Since 2003, Williams has been a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Global Justice in the Graduate College of Social Work at the University of Houston. In 2007, she was appointed the Sam and Cele Keeper Endowed Professor in Peace and Social Justice.

Professor Williams continues to be recognized for her contributions to human rights and global security. She is the recipient of fifteen honorary degrees, among other recognitions. In 2004, she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.  She has written articles for magazines and newspapers around the world, contributed various chapters to countless books, and co-authored a book on the landmine crisis.  Her most recent book, edited with Steve Goose and Mary Wareham, analyzes the Mine Ban Treaty and its impact on other human security-related work. It is being published for release in March 2008.

For more information and a list of publications, please see her webpage at http://www.icbl.org/ campaign/ ambassadors/ jody_williams/ bio.