Note to Correspondents

United Nations Academic Impact to Host ‘Conversation’ with Nobel Peace

 

Laureate Jody Williams at Headquarters, 11 February

 

Peace activist, human rights defender and 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams will be at United Nations Headquarters on 11 February to take part in the United Nations Academic Impact’s “Classroom Conversation”.  The event, simply called “A conversation with Jody Williams”, will focus on her peace activism and grass roots campaign.  It will take place in Conference Room 2 from 3 to 5 p.m.

In the 1980s, while studying at the University of Vermont, Ms. Williams became involved in aid work in war-torn El Salvador and Nicaragua, where she saw first-hand the devastation caused by landmines.  In 1992, she founded the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a citizens’ initiative.  In 1997, as a result of her relentless campaign, an international treaty banning landmines was adopted.  Currently, 161 countries are signatories to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. 

In 1997, in recognition of her efforts, Ms. Williams was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.

The event is open to all, but seats are limited.  Those interested in attending are requested to pre-register by sending an e-mail to academicimpact@un.org (subject: Jody Williams).  It will be webcast and made available at webtv.un.org.  Online viewers are encouraged to submit their questions and comments to the same address.

For more information on the United Nations Academic Impact, please contact Hasan Ferdous, tel.:  +1 212 963 6555, e-mail:  ferdous@un.org; or visit http://outreach.un.org/unai.

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For information media • not an official record