The backstory
Jody Williams won the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. She launched the group in 1991 and in just six years, the campaign led 1,000 organizations in 60 countries to push for a ban of the manufacture, export and use of landmines, which kill or maim thousands of civilians worldwide each year, long after civil wars and regional conflicts come to an end.
As a result of Williams’ infamous middle-of-the-night faxes and relentless organizing efforts, 133 nations agreed to stop using landmines and to destroy stockpiles of the weapons when they signed the Mine Ban Treaty in Ottawa in 1997. Since then, 23 more nations have signed the Ottawa treaty, with the notable exception of the U.S., Russia and China.
In 2006, Williams founded the Nobel Women’s Initiative with six of the seven living women prizewinners. The initiative highlights the work of women activists around the world. Most recently, the NWI and others have pressured the U.N. Security Council to open an investigation into crimes against humanity in Burma.
Williams grew up in Brattleboro, studied English as a Second Language at UVM and obtained a master’s in ESL and Spanish at the School for International Training. She holds a master’s in international relations from Johns Hopkins University. From 1986-1992, she was the director of Medical Aid, which provided treatment for children who were injured by war in El Salvador.
How did she become an activist? Let Jody tell you straight out in this video clip from Social Edge.
