Board of Advisors

Member, Board of Advisors

Ms Jody Williams received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work to eliminate antipersonnel landmines.

An organizer, activist, teacher, and writer, Ms Williams is an eloquent speaker on human rights and international law, the role of civil society in international diplomacy, and individual initiative in bringing about social change.

Ms Williams worked for eleven years to build public awareness about US policy toward Central America. From 1986 to 1992, she developed and directed humanitarian relief projects as the deputy director of Medical Aid for El Salvador. From 1984 to 1986, she was co-coordinator of the Nicaragua-Honduras Education Project, leading fact-finding delegations to the region.

Ms Williams was along with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As the founding coordinator of the ICBL, she oversaw the growth of the ICBL from 6 to more than 1,300 NGOs in over eighty-five countries and served as the chief strategist and spokesperson for the campaign.

Working in an unprecedented cooperative effort with governments, UN bodies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the ICBL achieved its goal of an international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines during the diplomatic conference held in Oslo in September 1997.

Since 1998, Ms Williams has served as a Campaign Ambassador for the ICBL. She is also a member of the Coordination Committee of the ICBL. She also serves as senior editor for its 1000-page annual Landmine Monitor Report, a groundbreaking system that monitors the implementation and compliance of the Mine Ban Treaty.

Ms Williams is one of ten Nobel Peace Laureates to work with Peacejam, an education program built around leading Nobel Peace Laureates who work with youth to pass on their spirit, skills, and wisdom to inspire a new generation of peacemakers.

Ms Williams is also Distinguished Visiting Professor of Social Work, in the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Houston for the academic year 2003-2004.

Ms Williams has a master degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (1984), a master degree from the School for International Training (1976), and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Vermont (1972).