Latin American Women making history

This article does not reflect the opinions of the FeminUN student group, but of their respective authors.

"Being Human and Woman, neither more nor less". Fortune -Ida Vitale -

When you are asked to “Name women you think have made an impact” it is undeniable to immediately answer: Malala Yousafzai , Margaret Thatcher , Marie Curie or Rosa Parks , since they are a reference around the world of self-improvement, leadership and women’s empowerment. However, if the question would change to “Name Latin American and Colombian women who have left their mark”, you do not answer right away and it would take you a while to answer, right? That is why here we bring you 5 Latin American women who are currently making history all over the world and you probably did not know it.

Let’s start with Adriana Noreña, a Colombian who is considered by Forbes on the top 50 among the most powerful women in 2021. Since 2011, she has been the vice president for Hispanic America at Google, one of the most important positions within the company. She has dedicated herself to coordinating all technological innovations, marketing strategies and the application of artificial intelligence within the company. Besides doing an impeccable job within the company, she is one of the driving forces behind “Women at Google'', where she promotes the academic development of women in Latin America so that they can become professionals. Adriana is definitely a Colombian pride.

Adriana Noreña

Now, Mabel Bianco. An Argentine doctor who was chosen by the BBC as one of the 100 most influential and inspiring women in the Leadership category in 2019. She is considered as a Feminist woman, who has dedicated herself and for 40 years, to the fight for gender equality, HIV and abortion. The latter being one of the greatest achievements in her entire life, since she was the one who, in 2018 and 2020, defended the abortion decision in Argentina until it was approved. She has won countless awards and recognitions throughout her career, but the one considered most important was the “Distinguished Woman Award'', awarded by the NGO Committee for the CSW – United Nations Commission on the Status of Women – as it gave her the opportunity to develop social projects to combat HIV. Currently, she is the president of Foundation for Women’s Studies and Research (FEIM) and is also a consultant and advisor to the UN on projects and partnerships for gender equity. Undoubtedly, a legacy to follow.

Mabel Bianco

Next, the Colombian Francia Márquez. She is an African descent woman, environmentalist and human rights defender who has dedicated herself, and above all, to defending territories that are shrouded in violence. Although in Colombia she has entered politics, she considers herself a woman who has transcended in Colombia and the world due to the fight she has waged against those who want to take advantage of the ancestral territories, protected areas, and water resources of the country. Francias has been doing so through peaceful acts such as artistic mobilizations, environmental education and promotion of the diversity of the territories. For all of the above, she has been awarded international distinctions such as: “Defender of the year'' (2015) and “The Goldman Environmental Award'' (2018), as well as being one of the Top 100 influential women since 2019 according to the BBC. A woman who deserves all our admiration and respect.

Francia Márquez

Here we have the virologist Andrea Gamarnik, who is one of the most important women in the world of science, since she is the pioneer of the most innovative studies against HIV, dengue and now Covid-19. Furthermore, she is the only Latin American woman who have reached the American Academy of Microbiology (AAM). She considers science as form of art since a very young age and has received several awards for her brilliant, critical and investigative mind, such as: Gold Medal from the Faculty of Chemistry at the UBA (2009), the “L’Oréal-UNESCO'' Prize for Women in Science and the “Golda Meir Award' for outstanding women in sciences and arts. Gamarnik, who has considered that women face many obstacles in a scientific career and are not treated in the same way as men, dedicates every award to carrying out social projects with the Leloir laboratory´s help so that more women have the support to enter the world of arts and science.

Andrea Gamarnik

Nemonte Nenquimo, an Ecuatorian indigenous leader belonging to the Waorani ethnic group, who has been a woman “committed to defending her ancestral territory, culture and way of life in the Amazon rainforest”. She is recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the world according to Times magazine. Throughout her career as an activist, she never allowed customs and doctrines from the city to be imposed on her, she has always been a standard-bearer of maintaining the customs of the indigenous territories as an ancestral legacy. This is the reason why, since 2011, Nemonte began working for the non-exploitation of oil in indigenous territories, the promotion of ecology projects and good management of resources. On each project, she has faced social prejudices for being woman, indigenous and not having higher education. However, and as per herself, this has been the reason why she carries out all her activities on a daily basis. Consequently, Nemonte was recognized with the “UN Women within the framework of the Pro Amazonia Program Award'' and the “Goldman Environmental Award'' (2020), the most important environmental award in the world.

Nemonte Nenquimo

Author: Sofía Daza Pallares.

Translated by Camila Aragon Baca.

References

BBC.Who are the 100 Women chosen by the BBC for 2019 (and which are the 10 Latin American women) .https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-50069295

Konex Foundation. (2022) Andrea Gamarnik https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b4558-andrea-gamarnik

Forbes Colombia. (2021) Powerful women 2021| Adriana Noreña., from https://forbes.co/2021/05/19/mujeres-poderosas-2021/mujeres-poderosas-2021-adriana-norena/

Grupo Semana (2022) The Nobel Prize for the Environment Francia Márquez, Environmental Leader Winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize, the new Colombian master’s degree. http://especiales.dinero.com/cuarenta-menores-de-cuarenta/francia-marquez.html

Grupo Semana(2021). Five Colombian women who stand out in big technology companies. https://www.semana.com/tecnologia/articulo/cinco-mujeres-colombianas-que-se-destacan-en-las-grandes-empresas-de-tecnologia/202146/

Fundación Instituto Leloir. (2022) .Molecular Virology | Andrea V. Gamarnik., from https://www.leloir.org.ar/gamarnik/