Somaly Mam was just named one of the world’s 100 most influential people of 2009 by Time Magazine. World-renowned actress, humanitarian, and U.N goodwill ambassador Angelina Jolie wrote an impassioned endorsement of Somaly:

“The fact that she escaped makes her unique, but what makes her truly extraordinary is that she went back. While, understandably, most people would spend the rest of their lives quietly recovering from their wounds, Mam decided to confront the system that continues to victimize Cambodian girls.”

You can read the rest of Jolie’s thoughts on Somaly, as well as check out the entire Time 100 list, here.