Few advocates of Palestinian liberation have become as familiar a name as Dr. Hanan Ashrawi. A principled activist and gifted speaker with a formidable academic background, she rose to international prominence during the First Intifada in 1988. Later, with the start of the Madrid Conference in 1991, she caught the world’s attention as the official representative of the Palestinian delegation.
Her story is one of courage, sacrifice and solidarity with those pushed to society’s periphery: for decades, Mia Yamamoto hid her true self as a trans woman while fiercely advocating for the marginalized and uniting diverse groups to amplify unheard voices. Since birth, she has shared the fate of the incarcerated – a reality that continues to shape her to this day.
Lawyer, judge, professor, UN legal expert, researcher – forced to start over repeatedly, Dr. Cecilia Medina Quiroga has earned herself nearly every title you could think of in the field of law. Above all, she is a specialist in international human rights law who truly believes that women’s rights can be advanced through the application of human rights. Her perspective has contributed to the development of women’s rights protection, notably in the Inter-American Court for Human Rights’ historic “Cotton Field Femicide” case over which she presided.
Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit (née Swarupa Kumari Nehru) was a famous diplomat, politician and Indian freedom fighter during the 20th century. Her role in international politics and relations as well as the development of the model and formation of the United Nations is oftentimes shadowed by her connection to her brother Jawharlal Nehru, the first president of independent post-colonial India, and Mahatma Ghandi, who she fought alongside with for an Indian state free from British imperial rule.
In public international law circles, especially those indulging in the law of the sea, Elisabeth Mann Borgese, the youngest daughter born to German Nobel Prize-winning novelist Thomas Mann in 1918, is perhaps best known for her pioneering work on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Her convictions and contributions to the UNCLOS focused on social justice, equitable access to resources, and environmental protection. By offering a glimpse into her contributions to the UNCLOS, this post highlights how Elisabeth Mann Borgese’s ideology – influenced in part by her cautious feminist beliefs – permeates her legacy.
Simone Rozès was a pioneering French jurist who left a lasting impact on the French judicial system and beyond. Her decade-spanning career was marked by her many prestigious positions and her commitment to justice. However, as a woman in the mid-20th century, she also faced various challenges, including overcoming gender barriers within the judiciary.
Ángela de Oliveira Cézar de Costa (1860-1940) was a pioneer in the realms of international pacifism and “female diplomacy” during the late 19th and early 20th century – and yet she remains standing in the shadow of a statue she had commissioned: the Christ in the Andes is far better known than her own name.
Eunice Paiva (1929-2018) was a prominent Brazilian lawyer and human rights defender. Married to Rubens Paiva, a congressman who disappeared during the Brazilian military dictatorship, Eunice transformed her grief into activism, denouncing the regime’s violence. The film Ainda Estou Aqui (I Am Still Here), based on the book of the same name written by her son, Marcelo Rubens Paiva, offers a unique opportunity to learn about her fight for the rule of law.
A life dedicated to helping those in need, Lucy Thoumaian fought tirelessly for justice and peace. She gave her voice and heart to the Armenian people and rescued her Armenian husband when he was imprisoned and sentenced to death - this female “knight errant” even inspired a late 19th century novel. As initiator of the “Every Woman” International Movement, she called upon her “[d]ear Sisters of Every Land” to unite for peace during the First World War. The story of our “Sister” begins in France and Switzerland in the mid-19th century, in the peace of the mountains.
For abolitionists, she cared too much about “the woman question”, for feminists, she was too concerned with anti-slavery reforms. Lucretia Mott was caught in a crossfire of human rights movements. Her relentless activism for universal liberty and freedom allowed her to embrace both efforts.
13. September 2025
Giovanni Capoccia
12. September 2025
Anne Peters
12. September 2025
Anne Peters