Ebadi, 61, has kept her word. In light of the recent controversial Iranian election, she has called for peace, saying that she expects “the international community to prevent the pursuit of violence by the government.”

At a news conference in Geneva, she went on to say that she also expects the government to stop firing on the people of Iran, and that a new election should be held in Iran.

According to Amnesty International, up to 10 people have been killed in the violence, hundreds have been arrested, and street protests against the dubious election results continue.

Ebadi, a lawyer, says that those imprisoned should be released, and that protests should continue, though peacefully.

Through death threats and constant opposition, Ebadi has continued to lobby for human rights for all people. “I condemn all human rights violations. I am not an opposition leader, I am a human rights defender,” she says.

According to Ebadi, the closing of her Defenders of Human Rights Center in Tehran was illegal; however, though she has filed a complaint, it has yet to be addressed.

“But for the moment the authorities haven’t looked at our case.”

Hopefully her impassioned words will help end some of the violence in Iran.  U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay echoed Ebadi’s cries for peace at the same news conference, saying that the Iranian government should put a stop to the Islamic militiamen who are supposedly behind the violence.

While the original Solidarity with Cuba Day had a purpose in calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience–of which there are at least 200 today, and likely more–today the day marks a day of hope.

People are speaking out. Cubans are fighting against the regime that denies them the right to vote, to receive fair trials, and the freedom from cruel and unusual punishment. Former political prisoners are giving the silenced a voice, and the world is finally hearing from Cuban citizens.

And from a country that controls 90% of its own economic activity, denies freedom of expression, assembly and free association, and even imprisons bloggers for distributing information, this sound is desperately needed.

Executive director of the Center for Democracy in the Americas Sarah Stephens says, “The right way to advance our values is to engage with Cuba’s people and its government, enable all Americans to travel to Cuba, and encourage real exchanges about our values and ideals.”

With the restrictions on Cuban flights being loosened by the Obama administration, further engagement with Cuban citizens–and perhaps aid–is possible.

Cubans believe that that day is coming soon, and reiterate that belief with the song by Cuban-born Willy Chirino, “Nuestro Dia, Ya Viene Llegando” (Our Day: It is Coming Soon).