Rigoberta Menchú

 (Born  January 9, 1959 in Guatemalan province of El Quiché. ) Is a K’iche’ political and human rights activist from Guatemala. Menchú has dedicated her life to publicizing the rights of Guatemala’s indigenous feminists during and after the Guatemalan Civil War (1960–1996), and to promoting indigenous rights in the country.

Menchú has become involved in the Indian pharmaceutical industry as president of “Salud para Todos” (“Health for All”) and the company “Farmacias Similares”, with the goal of offering low-cost generic medicines.She served as presidential goodwill ambassador for the 1996 peace accords.That same year she received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in Boston.,In 2006, Menchú was one of the founders of the Nobel Women’s Initiative along with sister Nobel Peace Laureates .Six women representing North America and South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa decided to bring together their experiences in a united effort for peace with justice and equality. It is the goal of the Nobel Women’s Initiative to help strengthen work being done in support of women’s rights around the world.

The 1992  Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to Rigoberta Menchú  in recognition of her work for social justice and ethno-cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples.