2020
Maria Antônia Carvalho Dezidério
- Age: 23
- | She/her/hers
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We, young people, are uniquely positioned to disrupt power dynamics that have contributed to grave challenges and violences throughout the world. In our hemisphere, women of African descent are the most vulnerable to violences, and have less access to resources for healing. We are also underrepresented in positions of power. It's time for our voice to be heard, so we can create a world were we have the right to flourish.
- Maria Antônia Carvalho Dezidério
Bio
Maria Antônia Carvalho Dezidério was born and raised in Brazil. She is currently a Law Student at Universidade de São Paulo. As a Law student she participated and helped organize initiatives to defend Brazil’s democracy and institutions. Maria Antônia worked with Climate Litigation, Adolescent Girls rights, and name rectification for trans people at the judiciary in São Paulo. She did reaserch on Criminology, Healing Justice, and Democracy in South America. She is a Girl Up Alumni and founder of ConectElas.
What ignited your pursuit for gender equality?
The inequality itself. Girls are constantly being violated inside their own homes. Black people are constantly being killed by the State. Black women are the intersection of it. I believe gender equality, education and resources are the keys to a better world.
Please share your biggest wins as an advocate for gender equality.
My advocacy work on campaigns such as "Absorvente Urgente" that approved in my hometown Salvador a law for free distribution of menstrual hygiene item.My work with VidaAfrolatina connecting in Latin America black women that are adressing sexual violence though a healing justice perspective and my winning as the first black women to be the president of the youth parliament.
Outside of your gender equality advocacy work, what do you enjoy doing?
Spend time with my friends and loved ones, read, dedicate time for painting and jogging.
Languages Spoken:
- English (Advanced/Native)
- Portuguese (Advanced/Native)
- Spanish (Intermediate)
- French (Intermediate)
- Portuguese (Advanced/Native)
Speaks On:
- Black female rights in Brazil
- Access to Justice
- Democracy and Institutions
Past Awards, Certifications, or Fellowships:
- Latin America Leadership Academy Program (2019)
- Girl Up Leadership Summit (2019)
- Global Voices University of Michigan State prize winner (2020)
- One Young World Leader (2020)
- EPIIC Tufts Brazil's representer (2023)
