President, Sandinista Renovation Movement Political Party, Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, women represent approximately 40 percent of the national economy. When faced with a severe economic crisis and civil war in the 1970s and 1980s, women worked diligently to provide for their families and increase their participation in politics to ensure that the needs of their community were addressed. By 1984, approximately 50 percent of Nicaraguan households were led by women. Ana Margarita Vijil Gurdian serves as president of the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) political party. When elected president of her party in 2012, she became the youngest person to lead a Central American political party. As a member of the MRS national campaign team, in 2006, Gurdian ran for a seat in parliament. Though she did not win, her work was recognized by her colleagues and in 2007 she was elected to become part of the MRS’s National Directorate and Executive Committee. In addition to her political involvement, she serves as a professor on human rights and gender at the Polytechnic Nicaraguan University in Managua where she received her law degree. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2008 to study at Arizona State University, where she earned her master’s degree in political science in 2010.
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
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Ana Margarita Vijil Gurdian
March 25, 2014
President, Sandinista Renovation Movement Political Party, Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, women represent approximately 40 percent of the national economy. When faced with a severe economic crisis and civil war in the 1970s and 1980s, women worked diligently to provide for their families and increase their participation in politics to ensure that the needs of their community were addressed. By 1984, approximately 50 percent of Nicaraguan households were led by women. Ana Margarita Vijil Gurdian serves as president of the Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) political party. When elected president of her party in 2012, she became the youngest person to lead a Central American political party. As a member of the MRS national campaign team, in 2006, Gurdian ran for a seat in parliament. Though she did not win, her work was recognized by her colleagues and in 2007 she was elected to become part of the MRS’s National Directorate and Executive Committee. In addition to her political involvement, she serves as a professor on human rights and gender at the Polytechnic Nicaraguan University in Managua where she received her law degree. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship in 2008 to study at Arizona State University, where she earned her master’s degree in political science in 2010.
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
