Hero of November: Shirin Ebadi

Women November 2019 Figure - Shirin Ebadi-01Our woman hero of November is Shirin Ebadi! She is an Iranian political activist, lawyer, a former judge and human rights activist and founder of Defenders of Human Rights Center in Iran. On 10 October 2003, Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her significant and pioneering efforts for democracy and human rights, especially women’s, children’s, and refugee rights. She was the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive the prize. In 2004, she was listed by Forbes magazine as one of the “100 most powerful women in the world”. She is also included in a published list of the “100 most influential women of all time.” Continue reading

Hero of October: Wangari Maathai

Women October 2019 Figure - Wangari Maathai-01Our woman hero of October is Wangarĩ Maathai! She was a renowned Kenyan social, environmental and political activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize.  In 1977, Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, an environmental non-governmental organization focused on the planting of trees, environmental conservation, and women’s rights. In 1984, she was awarded the Right Livelihood Award.

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