Biography

Jody Williams served as the founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) until February 1998. In 1997, Williams and the ICBL were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Along with sister Laureate Dr. Shirin Ebadi of Iran, Jody Williams took the lead in establishing the “Nobel Women’s Initiative,” together with sister Laureates Wangari Maathai (Kenya), Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Guatemala) and Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire (Northern Ireland). Launched in January 2006, its mission is to use the prestige and access afforded by the Nobel Prize to spotlight and promote efforts of women’s rights activists, researchers and organizations working to advance peace, justice and equality for women.

Williams, a widely published writer and author, serves as its chair. In February-March 2007, Professor Williams lead 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 work related to stopping the war in Darfur.

Professor Williams continues to be recognized for her contributions to human rights and global security. She is the recipient of 15 honorary degrees, among other recognitions. In 2004, she was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the 100 most powerful women in the world.