Ms. Ebadi is an internationally recognized advocate of human rights and has established many nongovernmental organizations in Iran, including those for protection of children, women, and political prisoners, as well as an organization dedicated to carrying out the Land Mine Treaty. As a lawyer, Ebadi has taken on many controversial cases defending political dissidents and, as a result, has been imprisoned numerous times. Her refusal to be silenced and her willingness to take on politically sensitive legal cases have won the admiration of human rights groups across the world.