Margarida Genevois turns 100 years old
A Conectas Associate and an important figure in the Brazilian human rights movement
A integrante do grupo de Associados e Associadas da Conectas completa 100 anos de idade nesta sexta-feira (10). Foto: João Paulo Brito/ Conectas
Margarida Genevois, a member of the group of Conectas Associates, turns 100 years old on Friday (10). Genevois graduated in Social Sciences at the São Paulo School of Sociology and Politics and is an important figure in the human rights movement in Brazil.
“Margarida Genevois deserves all our tributes. It is a privilege to have her on our General Assembly. Her sound work towards the defence of human rights over the past decades, particularly during the military dictatorship, is an inspiration for those of us who fight for and dream of a society in which the rights of all people are respected”, says Camila Asano, executive director at Conectas.
Margarida was the first woman to join the Archdiocese of São Paulo´s Justice and Peace Commission, created by Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns. She was also president of the Commission (1983 to 1984; 1990 and 1992), which denounced human rights violations during the military dictatorship.
The sociologist was also a member of the USP Human Rights Commission in 1998, an advisor on the National Board of Women´s Rights in 1995 and a settlor of Brazil Human Rights Fund.
Margarida funded and presided over the Brazilian Network for Education in Human Rights and was one of the founders of the Teotônio Vilela Human Rights Commission. In 2008, she received the title of Citizen of São Paulo for her standing in the area of Human Rights.
In 2019, Margarida was honoured by the OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) with the Franz de Castro Holzwarth prize, created to acknowledge the work of people who work to make human rights effective in the country.
“Things will not change if those involved do not fight”, said Margarida Genevois in an interview with Conectas.
