Beatriz Merino

Peruvian activist ending gender-based violence through community radio networks

Beatriz Merino (b.1978) pioneered Peru's first community radio network dedicated to women's rights. Growing up in the Andean highlands, she witnessed pervasive domestic violence and lack of legal recourse for rural women. After studying journalism in Lima, she founded Voces de Mujer in 2002, a network of 30+ community radio stations broadcasting in Quechua and Spanish. The stations provide legal advice, health information, and platforms for survivors to share stories. Merino's initiative led to the creation of Peru's first rural women's shelters and contributed to the 2010 Law Against Gender Violence. Her documentary "Voices in the Silence" won an Emmy for highlighting indigenous women's resilience. She continues to train journalists across Latin America through her Mujer Media Institute, emphasizing participatory reporting.