Carmen Barroso

Carmen Barroso has been in the women’s movement since her youth, and has supported movement building throughout her distinguished career, beginning as a university professor and a founder of a women’s studies center in Brazil. In 1990, she was appointed Director of the Population and Reproductive Health Program of the MacArthur Foundation, which supported women’s organizations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

She retired from her position as Director of the Western Hemisphere Region of IPPF, but continues to be active for reproductive and sexual rights, either through writing, consulting, or serving on high-level global panels and committees of the UN, WHO, and UNFPA.

She holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and did post-doctoral work at Cornell University. Her contributions have been recognized by prestigious awards, such as the 2016 UN Population Award, the 2019 Women Deliver Award, and the Fred Sai Award for lifetime commitment to SRHR.