Nobel Women's Initiative

—Media Advisory—

Burma's recently freed opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi today added her name to the list of Nobel Peace Laureates who have signed a letter to US President Obama, calling upon him to join the Mine Ban Treaty.    Fifteen other Nobel Peace Laureates, including Jody Williams and Archbishop Tutu, have also signed the letter-which was sent to Obama on November 30.

Suu Kyi spoke earlier today with Williams, who had called Suu Kyi on behalf of all her Nobel sisters.  Among other things, the two women spoke about the continued use of landmines in Burma.  Williams also congratulated Suu Kyi on her release from house arrest, and pledged her support and that of her sister Laureates to keep up the work to free Burma's other 2100 political prisoners. 

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Williams won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, along with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, for her work on the Mine Ban Treaty. The Mine Ban Treaty comprehensively bans antipersonnel mines, requires destruction of stockpiled mines within four years, and urges extensive programs to assist the victims of landmines.

For more information contact:
Rachel Vincent, Nobel Women's Initiative
rvincent@nobelwomensinitiative.org
+ 1. 613.276.9030