Miriam Leiva born Villa Clara, Cuba August 11, 1947. Cuban dissident journalist; co-founded Ladies in White protesting political detentions 2003; fired from Foreign Ministry 1992; sought reconciliation of US and Cuba; blog Cuban Reconciliation.
“[T]he political problems that divide the U.S. from Cuba will never be solved through diplomatic isolation but through negotiation and engagement.” (Cuba Central, May 30, 2014; photo cubanuestra1)
Elizabeth Lira Kornfeld born Santiago, Chile April 5, 1944. Professor of Psychology; worked with victims of torture Chile, Salvador 1992-96, Guatemala 1999-2001; promoted postwar political reconciliation in Latin America.
"[H]uman beings can live in peace, without wars and without misery. With a growing sense of personal dignity in all corners of the planet. The sense of one's own dignity and the recognition of the dignity of the other is the most important condition of peaceful coexistence in families and in society." (1325 Mujeres tejiendo Lira; photo faculdad dereehio)
Claudia López Hernández born Bogotá, Colombia March 9, 1970. Colombian Senator 2014 Green Alliance advocate of peace and reconciliation; journalist.
“In the Senate I hope to bring rigor and courage, to replace and not only denounce the corrupt, to stop this infamous war and to build an inclusive and transforming peace.” (official site:about me; photo es.wikipedia)
Paulina Luisi born Colón, Entre Rios, Argentina September 22, 1875 (d. 1949). Uruguayan reformer and abolitionist; socialist; feminist; suffragist. First Uruguayan woman doctor, 1908. As first Latin American woman delegate to League of Nations, she spearheaded discussion on the issue of white slavery. Helped bring about Uruguayan suffrage, 1927. One of five women to attend World Disarmament Conference, 1932.
“Woman is the only one who can protect [humanity] in these tragic times from madness that from time to time overtake men’s minds and plunge millions into barbarous wars of aggression, pillage and conquest. Woman remains the only bastion for the defense of. . . humanity, life itself, lashed with crazed fury by men blinded with hatred.” (radio address, 1936, in Christine Ehrick, Radio and the Gendered, p. 107; photo Wikipedia)
Berta Lutz born São Paulo, Brazil August 2, 1894 (d. 1976). One of four women to sign UN Charter 1945. Brazilian zoologist and leading feminist who led for right of women to vote; diplomat who signed treaty on Diplomatic Asylum 1954; co-founded Pan American Association of Women 1922.
"The souls of women have mingled in a common ideal, to contribute their share to the progress of the world." (Pan American Union, Baltimore, 1922; photo Wikipedia)
Otilia Lux de Coti born Santa Cruz del Quiché, Guatemala January 21, 1949. Mayan leader; only woman on national Truth and Reconciliation Commission 1997; Minister of Culture 2000-4; Executive Director of International Forum of Indigenous Women.
"Violence, discrimination and racism are scourges that prevent the full development of indigenous women and girls. . . institutional violence is particularly evident when we consider that the rule of law is not equal for all citizens." (UN Women, April 25, 2017)
“It was determined a genocide had been committed in the light of multiple events, like the massacres, the compulsive displacement of many peoples, burning everything and leaving just scorched earth behind; they burned houses, they burned animals. So the people had to flee in order to survive. . . So all those elements made the law experts determine that there really was a genocide in Guatemala. There really was! We saw it, we can confirm it.” (to UN Commission on Indigenous, Madre, June 6, 2013; photo Iknow politics)
Women in Peace
is dedicated to highlighting the achievements of extraordinary, peacemaking women from around the world.
