Adolfo Pérez Esquivel

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel was born on November 26, 1931 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He studied Architecture in the National School of Bellas Artes and in the University of La Plata; he later worked as a teacher and in 1971 he began to get involved in movements that fought for justice and peace.

In 1973, he founded the newspaper "Paz y Justicia" (Peace and Justice) that soon after turned into the peak of the movement and defense for Human Rights in Latin-America, and the " Movimiento Ecuménico Paz y Justicia" (Ecumenical Movement for Peace and Justice) along with some Christian groups. Two years later he participated in the creation of the "Permanent Assembly for Human Rights".
 

In 1976 he traveled the world and designed programs meant develop and help indigenous Latin-American communities, working-class movements and other groups in needy conditions. During 1977 and 1978 he was imprisoned in Argentina by the military dictatorship headed by president Videla and during this period he received the "Juan XXIII Memorial Peace Prize" granted by the International Pax Cristi.

In 1980 he won the Nobel Peace Prize for his fight for Human Rights and soon after he was designated as member of the executive committee of the United Nations' Human Rights Permanent Assembly.

Perez Esquivel has contributed with numerous international missions like the "Ship for Peace to Nicaragua", "Ship for Solidarity to Poland" and campaigns for resolution of conflicts in South Africa, Afghanistan, Middle East and Tibet, among others.

Entre sus innumerables trabajos literarios se destaca "Caminando Junto al Pueblo (1995)", donde cuenta sus experiencias en la lucha por el ideal de la No-Violencia en América Latina.

Among his literary highlights is "Caminando Junto al Pueblo (1995)" (Walking with the people), where he describes his experiences in the struggle for the ideal of Non-violence in Latin America.

Today, Esquivel commits histime to the "Fundación Servicio, Paz y Justicia" -SERPAJ- (Service, Peace and Justice Foundation) and to the Project "Village of Children for Peace" that helps numerous minors in a social-risk conditions.