Radhika Coomaraswamy
Radhika Coomaraswamy is know as a human rights activist, especially for women’s rights across the world. From 1994-2003, she worked for the United Nations and brought a voice to violence against women across the world. In some cultures around the world, women are not given the same amount of respect as men, and her position shed light on some obstacles and abuse that women were facing around the world, including slavery.
Most recently, she worked for the United Nations as the Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflicts. Basically, that means that she provided a voice for children who were caught in the middle of violence because of wars around the world. She would make recommendations for any special help they needed, for example food, shelter, or refuge in safe countries. She has won many awards for helping fight for human rights and civil rights, especially for women and children. Radhika Coomaraswamy was born in Sri Lanka in 1953. She trained at the United Nations International School and received her bachelor’s degree from Yale University, her doctorate degree from Columbia University and an Advanced Law Degree from Harvard University. She has lived in New York and also back home in Sri Lanka. She is inspiring to me because she has spent her life trying to give a voice to some major injustices in the world. Children deserve to be safe, well-fed and cared for. War tears families and countries apart, and sometimes children don’t get considered. If you would like to read more about Radhika Coomaraswamy, click here to read her full biography. If you would like to learn more about children who are caught in the middle of wars and Armed Conflict, check out the United Nations website. Video about Coomaraswamy's Work (in French) |
Radhika is from Sri Lanka, which is an island on the southern tip of India in the Indian Ocean.
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