Yolanda Becerra

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Overview

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Yolanda Becerra Vega born Barrancabermeja, Colombia March 19, 1959. Pacifist, feminist activist. Promoted Social Movement of Women against War and For Peace. National Director, Popular Women’s Organization (OFP), 1988. Offered nonviolent resistance to paramilitary, 2000; attacked and tortured at home, 2007. Received German Committee of UN Peace Award, 2001; Swedish Per Anger Prize, 2007; Amnesty International Sagan Award, 2009.

Quotations

“But those responsible cannot silence my voice, nor can they dismantle the organization This is what keeps me working, denouncing and reporting crimes against human rights, knitting together the fabric of society, mending what the war has destroyed, sowing seeds of life in the cracks of death.” (Amnesty International, Feb. 24, 2009; photo pazconmujeres.com)

Elisa Branco

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Overview

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Elisa Branco Batista born Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil December 29, 1912 (d. 2001). Brazilian feminist, textile worker, and peace activist. Vice-President, Council of Brazilian Peace Advocates, 1949-50; member of World Peace Council, 1951-64. Received 51-month prison sentence for opposing mobilization of Brazilian troops in Korean War, 1950; served 20 months. Other arrests followed, 1964, 1971. Awarded Stalin Peace Prize, 1952.

Quotations

“Our boys will not go to Korea as solders” (banner, Sept. 7, 1950; photo wikicommons)

Julia Bacha

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Overview

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Julia Bacha born Rio de Janeiro, Brazil November 17, 1980. Brazilian filmmaker. “Pay Attention to Nonviolence”, TED Talk, 2011; “How Women Wage Conflict Without Violence”, 2016. Filmography includes Budrus: A Story of Nonviolent Protest, 2009; Naila and the Uprising, 2017.

Quotations

“Nonviolence is not glamorous and you don't see the effects right away. But it works.”

“The greatest predictor of a movement’s decision to adopt non-violence is its ideology regarding the role of women in public life. . . when a movement includes in its discourse language of gender equality it increases dramatically the chance it will adopt non-violence and the likelihood it will succeed.” (“How Women Wage Conflict Without Violence”, 2:57, 2016; photo justvision.com)

Michelle Bachelet

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Overview

Michelle Bachelet born Santiago, Chile September 29, 1951. Headed UN Gender Equality 2010; first woman President of Chile 2006; imprisoned and tortured by Pinochet; as first President of Union of South American Nations (Unasur) 2008 called summit to mediate in Bolivia; pediatrician.

Quotations

"Because I was the victim of hate, I have consecrated my life to converting that hate into understanding, into tolerance, and why not say it, love." (Jan. 15, 2006; photo celebritiesheight.com)

Ivonne A-Baki

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Overview

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Ivonne Abdel-Baki (née Leila Ivonne Juez) born Guayaquil, Ecuador February 23, 1951. Artist; diplomat; peacemaker; head of Yasuní rainforest conservation project in Amazon. Founded Art for Peace, 1997; instrumental in Peru-Ecuador peace, 1998. Presidential candidate, 2002; Trade Minister, 2003-05; President of Andean Parliament, 2007-08; candidate for head of UNESCO, 2009. Created Galapagos Conservancy Foundation, 2009; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Quotations

"Women have the ability to understand the issues in different ways than men. They are better equipped to see the interests of both sides. Usually, men see their own position and move very little. A woman tries to find the way to compromise—maybe you have to give up a little, but everyone wins. . . Peace is not just about non-violence. It's not just about stopping wars. It's about inclusion. People want to be accepted in society as human beings no matter where they are from or what religion they are from or what color they are." (Sage Magazine, November 29, 2012; photo Twitter)

Mirta Baravalle

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Overview

Mirta Acuña de Baravalle born Uribelarrea, Buenos Aires, Argentina January 15, 1925. Co-founder of Mothers of Plaza Mayo and Grandmothers, protesting disappearances.

Quotations

“We're going to try and find all of them. . . You see, it is like an objective, a pledge we have made for ourselves.” (New York Times, Aug. 13, 1985)

“Today and always, we must fight for justice, which is where human dignity is born. . . When unjust things happen elsewhere in the world we feel compelled to do something.” (Pueblas interview, June 30, 2005; photo abuelas.org.ar)

Alicia Barcena Ibarra

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Overview

Alicia Bárcena Ibarra born Mexico March 5, 1952. Biologist and ecologist. Chief of Staff of UN Secretary General, 2006; UN Undersecretary for Management, 2007; first female head of Economic Commission for Latin America, 2008.

Quotations

“This, and not another, is the time for equality." (Aug. 3, 2010, San Juan, Argentina; photo UN)

Nita Barrow

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Overview

Dame Nita Barrow born Barbados November 15, 1916 (d. 1995). Nurse; educator; diplomat; organized UN Women's Conference Nairobi, 1985.

Quotations

"A clear understanding of every culture's pressures, its history and the way its people view themselves and the world is essential to the maintenance of peace. Every conflict has its deepest roots in a people's view of themselves and their neighbors." (National-Louis Univ. website 2007; photo UNESCO)

Desiree Bernard

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Overview

Desiree Bernard born Georgetown, Guyana March 2, 1939. International lawyer. First female judge of Supreme Court of Guyana, 1980; first female Chief Justice of Guyana, 1996; appointed to Caribbean Court of Justice, 2005.

Quotations

“[W]omen [should] call in the debts and promissory notes owed to them by men and demand a halt to the escalating rise in violent behaviour.” (Antigua, Caribbean Quarterly, Dec. 2009; photo Caricom)

Minerva Bernardino

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Overview

Minerva Bernardino born Seibo, Dominican Republic May 7, 1907 (d. 1998). One of four women who signed UN Charter 1945; responsible for Charter's words: ''to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without discrimination against race, sex, condition or creed.'' Insisted on words "Free Human Beings" in UN Covenant on Human Rights. (photo mbernardinofoundation.org)

Azucena Berruti

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Overview

Azucena Berruti born Tres Cruces, Uruguay January 7, 1929. Famed human rights lawyer. Defended political prisoners for nonviolent Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) affiliate SERPAJ Servicio de Paz y Justicia. As first woman Minister of Defense, refused participation in US School of Americas, 2005-08. Fired Lt. General Diaz for insubordination, 2006.

Quotations

On how the military took her command: “Ah, in my favor. A woman with remote control and also higher in rank. They are well educated.” (Gerardo Tagliaferro interview, May 21, 2012; photo elpoverin.over.blog)

Hebe de Bonafini

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Overview

Hebe de Bonafini born La Plata, Argentina December 4, 1928. Co-founder of Mothers of Plaza del Mayo protesting disappearances; opposed US imperialism, saying Sept. 11 was result of US bombing Yugoslavia and Afghanistan.

Quotations

“Rebels, crazy, arrogant; We stood before power and said 'here we are.' We put our body that is the only thing we have to put. . . We do this because we have overcome death, dear children. We beat the executioner. This is pure life, full of love and embraces . . . with those children who were born to us later, we are sowing a new path, which is not revolutionary, building, marching along with those who need us.” (May 1, 2006, Wikipedia; photo alchetrn)

Heloise Brainerd

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Overview

Heloise Brainerd born Wallingford, VT April 30, 1881 (d. 1969). Bilingual Latin American expert, semi-official envoy with Pan American Union 1909-35; promoted WILPF (LIMPAL) expansion in Latin America.

Quotations

On her trip to Latin America: "I was most impressed with the splendid enthusiasm which was expressed by these countries for the newer phases of education, and by the interest shown in fostering friendship and good understanding between these countries with each other and the United States." (New York Times, Nov. 22, 1928; photo LIMPAL)

References

http://bit.ly/1rXAcj2

Rosemary Brown

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Overview

Rosemary Brown (née Wedderburn) born Kingston, Jamaica June 17, 1930 (d. 2003). Canadian Black human rights leader, first Black in provincial legislature, served 15 years 1972-86; professor of women's studies; Chief of Ontario Human Rights Commission; early member of pacifist Voice of Women.

Quotations

"Unless all of us are free, none of us will be free. . . Until all of us have made it, none of us have made it." (photo collectionscanada.gc.ca)

Mary Burton

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Overview

Mary Burton (née Ingouville) born Buenos Aires, Argentina January 19, 1940. Commissioner of South African Truth & Human Rights, 1995; Head of Black Sash, 1986-90. Established Register of Reconciliation to aid people not heard by Truth and Reconciliation Commission, 1997. Founded Home for All Campaign for whites to acknowledge the damage of apartheid and to eliminate racism, 2000.

Quotations

“The right to be heard and acknowledged, with respect and empathy, did contribute to a process of healing.” (Brandeis University, Nov. 2011; photo blacksash.org)