Maria Elena Moyano

Peruvian activist who defied Shining Path guerrillas to empower marginalized women

María Elena Moyano (1958–1992), known as "Madre Coraje" (Mother Courage), organized soup kitchens and women’s collectives in Lima’s impoverished Villa El Salvador district during Peru’s internal conflict. As leader of the Federation of Popular Women of Villa El Salvador, she resisted both state violence and Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) insurgents who sought to control grassroots movements.

Moyano publicly denounced Shining Path’s authoritarian tactics, organizing a 1991 march attended by 300,000 people. In retaliation, guerrillas assassinated her in 1992, dynamiting her body to intimidate supporters. Her martyrdom galvanized opposition to terrorism, contributing to Shining Path’s decline. Today, her foundation continues advocating for women’s economic rights, making her a symbol of grassroots resistance in Latin America.