2. BIOGRAPHY
Rigoberta Menchú Tum born 9 January 1959 is an indigenous Guatemalan woman, of
the K'iche' ethnic group. Menchú has dedicated her life publicizing the rights of Guatemala's
indigenous peoples during and after the Guatemalan Civil War, and to promote indigenous
rights in the country. She received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 and the Prince of Asturias
Award in 1998. She is the subject of the testimonial biography I, Rigoberta Menchú (1983)
and the author of the autobiographical work, Crossing Borders . She has also become a
figure in indigenous political parties and ran for President of Guatemala in 2007 and 2011.
3. HER PROJECT
From a young age he became involved in the protest struggles indigenous and
peasant earning him political persecution and Exile. In 1979, Menchú perceived
that in the attempt to quell the rebellion, dictatorships have committed the
greatest atrocities.
The Nobel Prize was awarded in recognition of his struggle for social justice and ethno-
cultural reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous people.
4. Rigoberta Menchú won the Nobel Peace prize and has appeared in the Guinness
World Records for being the youngest winner of the Nobel and be the first Indian
to win the award and won the Prince of Asturias Award for International
Cooperation.
PRIZE
5. BOOKS
Rigoberta Menchú has written books called neighborhoods: The cry of the Earth
(1992), The glass of honey (2003), Towards a Culture of Peace (2002) and his
biography.
