OCTOBER 16, 1992

GUATEMALAN INDIAN RIGOBERTA MENCHU RECEIVES NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

Born in Laj Chimel, Guatemala, Rigoberta, while a teen, participated in social reform and women’s’ rights activities. During the Guatemalan Civil War, she joined the Peasant Unity Committee. Security forces would kill her brother, father, and mother. In 1981, she organized resistance while in exile in Mexico. In 1983, her book, I, Rigoberta Menchú, brought her international attention. For her efforts Rigoberta received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and Prince of Asturias Award in 1998. In 2003, Menchú became president of “Salud para Todos” (“Health for All”) an Indigenous pharmaceutical company. In 2006, she helped found the Nobel Women’s Initiative (6 female Nobel Peace Laureates from 6 continents). Menchú is also a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. In 2006, her efforts led Spain to call for extradition from Guatemala of 7 former Guatemala officials for genocide and torture. She ran for president of Guatemala in 2007 and in 2011, founded the country’s first Indigenous political party, Winaq.

Sources:
"Rigoberta Menchú Tum – Biographical," Nobelprize.org., 2013.  Retrieved 6/5/2019, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1992/tum/biographical/
"Spain seeks Guatemalan ex-rulers," BBC News, 12/23/2006. Retrieved 6/5/2019, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6205327.stm
"Nobel winner seeks presidency," The Herald, 2/23/2007.  Retrieved 6/5/2019, https://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-herald-1130/20070223/282067682471194
Photo:  Public domain. Source: http://people.brandeis.edu/~dwilliam/profiles/tum.htm.