María Elena Moyano

A Peruvian grassroots activist who championed women's and marginalized communities' rights in the 1980s.

María Elena Moyano (1952–1992) was a fearless Peruvian activist who dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of women and residents of Lima’s shantytowns. Born into poverty in a marginalized community, Moyano co-founded the Movement of Barriadas and Pueblos Libres in 1985, organizing protests against forced disappearances and government neglect during Alberto Fujimori’s regime. Her leadership mobilized thousands in hunger strikes and marches, demanding justice for victims of state violence.

Moyano’s work extended to gender equality. She established women’s committees to document human rights abuses and provide legal aid. Her 1989 speech “The Struggle for Dignity” became a rallying cry for Latin American feminists. Despite threats, she continued advocating until her assassination in 1992, a crime still unsolved.

Her legacy lives on through documentaries like <《The Voice of the Barrios》 (2005), which highlights her impact. The María Elena Moyano Women’s Center in Lima now trains activists in human rights advocacy. Scholars like historian Dr. Ana María García credit her with inspiring modern movements against gender-based violence in Peru.