Womens History Month 2023: Leymah Gbowee

Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women's rights advocate. She played a pivotal role in ending the Second Liberian Civil War and promoting women's rights in Liberia. In 2011, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in promoting nonviolent solutions to conflict and advocating for women's rights in Liberia.

Gbowee was born on February 1, 1972, in central Liberia. She grew up in a large family and had a difficult childhood due to her parents' separation and the economic hardships facing her family. Despite these challenges, she was a dedicated student and eventually earned a scholarship to attend high school.

After graduating from high school, Gbowee began working as a social worker, focusing on issues such as domestic violence and child abuse. She later became involved in the peace movement in Liberia, organizing women's groups and advocating for an end to the violence that was ravaging the country.

Gbowee's work in promoting peace and women's rights eventually led to her involvement in the peace negotiations that helped end the Second Liberian Civil War. In 2003, she organized a series of peaceful protests that brought together women from across Liberia's ethnic and religious divides to demand an end to the war. These protests played a key role in pressuring the warring factions to come to the negotiating table and reach a peace agreement.

In addition to her work in Liberia, Gbowee has been a vocal advocate for women's rights around the world. She has spoken out against the use of rape as a weapon of war and has called for greater political and economic empowerment for women.

Gbowee's activism and advocacy have earned her numerous awards and honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. She continues to work as an advocate for peace and women's rights, both in Liberia and around the world.