Beatriz Merino
Encyclopedia
Martha Beatriz Merino Lucero (born November 15, 1947, Peru
) was the first female Prime Minister of Peru. Merino served as Prime Minister from 23 June 2003 to 12 December 2003. Merino currently serves as the national ombudsman
for Peru, a position also known as the defender of the people. She is the third person to hold the position (the first title holder was Jorge Santistevan and his successor, in an interim position, was Walter Albán).
Beatriz Merino Lucero became the prime minister of Peru in 2003, the highest political rank ever held by a woman in the history of Peru. Merino held office between June 23, 2003 and December 12, 2003. In Peru
, she studied Law
at National University of San Marcos
. She graduated from Harvard University
with a master’s degree in law, becoming the first Peruvian woman to graduate from Harvard Law School
. She also obtained an LLM degree from the London School of Economics
in 1974. Merino was director of the Women’s Leadership Program at the Inter-American Development Bank
to support and finance projects to enhance women’s leadership in Latin America. She also worked as a lawyer at the law firm Estudio Merino and Reano, where she worked extensively in commercial, labor, corporate and environmental legislation.
Merino served Peru as a Senator from 1990 to 1992, and then served in Peru's Congress from 1995 to 2000. She was also the first Peruvian woman to serve on the Commission of Andean Jurists. At the University of Lima
, she was the director of foreign cooperation and of the master’s program on tax revenues and fiscal policies.
Merino is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders
, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally, for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
) was the first female Prime Minister of Peru. Merino served as Prime Minister from 23 June 2003 to 12 December 2003. Merino currently serves as the national ombudsman
Ombudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
for Peru, a position also known as the defender of the people. She is the third person to hold the position (the first title holder was Jorge Santistevan and his successor, in an interim position, was Walter Albán).
Beatriz Merino Lucero became the prime minister of Peru in 2003, the highest political rank ever held by a woman in the history of Peru. Merino held office between June 23, 2003 and December 12, 2003. In Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, she studied Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at National University of San Marcos
National University of San Marcos
The National University of San Marcos is the most important and respected higher-education institution in Peru. Its main campus, the University City, is located in Lima...
. She graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
with a master’s degree in law, becoming the first Peruvian woman to graduate from Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. She also obtained an LLM degree from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1974. Merino was director of the Women’s Leadership Program at the Inter-American Development Bank
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean...
to support and finance projects to enhance women’s leadership in Latin America. She also worked as a lawyer at the law firm Estudio Merino and Reano, where she worked extensively in commercial, labor, corporate and environmental legislation.
Merino served Peru as a Senator from 1990 to 1992, and then served in Peru's Congress from 1995 to 2000. She was also the first Peruvian woman to serve on the Commission of Andean Jurists. At the University of Lima
University of Lima
The University of Lima is a private university in Lima, the capital of Peru. It was founded in 1962. The decision to create the University of Lima was made in the early 1960s by a group of university professors, along with important commerce and industry representatives. It started with only 120...
, she was the director of foreign cooperation and of the master’s program on tax revenues and fiscal policies.
Merino is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders
Council of Women World Leaders
The Council of Women World Leaders is a network of current and former women prime ministers and presidents established in 1996 by Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, President of Iceland and first woman in the world to be democratically elected president, and Laura Liswood, Secretary General...
, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally, for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.