Emma Bonino facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Emma Bonino OMRI CdrLH
Bonino in 2019
Member of the Senate of the Republic
In office 23 March 2018 – 12 October 2022
Constituency	Rome
In office 29 April 2008 – 14 March 2013
Constituency	Piedmont
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 28 April 2013 – 22 February 2014
Prime Minister	Enrico Letta
Preceded by	Mario Monti (Acting)
Succeeded by	Federica Mogherini
Minister of European Affairs and International Trade
In office 17 May 2006 – 7 May 2008
Prime Minister	Romano Prodi
Preceded by	Giorgio La Malfa (European Affairs)
Succeeded by	Andrea Ronchi (European Affairs) Claudio Scajola (Development)
European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection
In office 25 January 1995 – 16 September 1999
President	Jacques Santer Manuel Marín (Acting)
Preceded by	Christiane Scrivener
Succeeded by	David Byrne
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 5 July 1976 – 20 December 1978
Constituency	Rome
In office 13 June 1979 – 10 July 1983
Constituency	Rome
In office 5 December 1986 – 2 July 1987
Constituency	Naples
In office 10 July 1990 – 25 January 1995
Constituency	Naples (1990–1992) Rome (1992–1994) Padua (1994–1995)
In office 21 April 2006 – 28 April 2008
Constituency	Veneto
Member of the European Parliament
In office 17 July 1979 – 12 April 1988
Constituency	North-West Italy
In office 20 July 1999 – 27 April 2006
Constituency	North-West Italy (1999–2004) North-East Italy (2004–2006)
Personal details
Born	(1948-03-09) 9 March 1948 (age 77) Bra, Italy
Political party	Italian Radicals (since 2001) More Europe (since 2017)
Other political affiliations	Radical Party (1975–2017) Pannella List (1989–1996) Bonino List (1999–2004)
Alma mater	Bocconi University

Emma Bonino (born March 9, 1948) is a famous Italian politician. She has served her country for many years in different important roles. She was a senator, which is like a senior lawmaker, for the city of Rome. She also served as Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs, working with other countries.

Bonino has been a member of both of Italy's houses of parliament: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. She also worked for the whole of Europe as a Member of the European Parliament.

She is a leader in the Italian Radicals and More Europe political parties. These groups believe in personal freedom and European federalism, which is the idea that European countries should work together more closely. Bonino is known for being a strong voice for reform and change in Italy.

Personal Life and Education

Emma Bonino was born in Bra, a town in the Piedmont region of Italy. In 1972, she graduated from Bocconi University in Milan with a degree in modern languages and literature. For her final project, she wrote about the autobiography of Malcolm X.

Bonino is the godmother to Countess Luana, who is the daughter of Prince Friso and Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau of the Dutch royal family.

In 2015, Bonino shared that she was being treated for lung cancer. She bravely continued her political work during her treatment. By May of the same year, she announced that her cancer was in remission, and in 2023, she confirmed she had recovered.

Political Career in Italy

Emma Bonino's career in Italian politics began in 1976 when she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. This is one of the two parts of the Italian Parliament. She was re-elected many times over the next 30 years.

Working for Change

From the beginning, Bonino was an activist for new laws. In 1975, she helped promote a referendum (a public vote) that led to new laws about women's health in Italy. In 1986, she was part of a successful campaign against the use of nuclear power in Italy.

Serving as a Minister

From 2006 to 2008, Bonino was the Minister for International Trade in the government of Prime Minister Romano Prodi. Her job was to manage Italy's trade with other countries.

In 2013, she became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta. This made her Italy's top diplomat, responsible for relationships with nations around the world.

A Popular Leader

Bonino has often been very popular with the Italian people. In 2017, polls showed she was one of the most liked politicians in the country. She once used the slogan, "Love Me Less, Vote Me More," to encourage people to support her party in elections.

She was elected to the Senate again in 2018, representing a district in Rome.

International Political Career

Bonino with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Rome.

Emma Bonino has also had a major career outside of Italy, working with the European Union and other international groups.

In the European Parliament

She was first elected to the European Parliament in 1979. The European Parliament helps make laws for all the countries in the European Union. She was re-elected several times, representing Italy.

As a European Commissioner

From 1994 to 1999, Bonino was the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection. In this role, she was in charge of important issues like food safety and helping people who needed aid after disasters. Her department was called the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO).

In 1999, she and the rest of the Santer Commission (the group of commissioners) resigned after a report criticized how some of them had managed their departments.

A Champion for Human Rights

Bonino is famous for her work on civil rights and human rights around the world. She has fought for:

• An end to capital punishment (the death penalty).
• Ending harmful traditional practices against women and girls.
• Religious freedom and personal liberty.
• Ending world hunger.

In 1997, she supported a movement called Un Fiore per le Donne di Kabul (A Flower for the Women of Kabul) to protest the poor treatment of women in Afghanistan. She also helped create organizations like No Peace Without Justice, which promotes human rights and democracy.

In 2001, she moved to Cairo, Egypt, to learn Arabic and better understand the culture of the Middle East. She later organized a major conference in the region about democracy and human rights.

Charity Work and Recognition

Emma Bonino is involved in many charitable causes. She is a member of the Council of Patrons for the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh. This special university helps talented young women from across Asia and the Middle East get an education.

In 2016, Pope Francis called Bonino one of Italy's "forgotten greats," comparing her to important European leaders like Konrad Adenauer and Robert Schuman.

Awards and Honors

Bonino has received many awards for her work.

• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic: This is one of Italy's highest honors, awarded to her in 2015.
• North-South Prize: She won this in 1999 for her work in protecting human rights.
• Open Society Prize: She received this in 2004.
• America Award: From the Italy-USA Foundation in 2013.
• BBC's 100 Women: In 2013, the BBC named her one of the 100 most influential women in the world.

Electoral history

Election	House	Constituency	Party		Votes	Result
1976	Chamber of Deputies	Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone		PR	12,855	Y Elected
1979	Chamber of Deputies	Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone		PR	33,595	Y Elected
1979	European Parliament	North-West Italy		PR	51,445	Y Elected
1983	Chamber of Deputies	Naples–Caserta		PR	7,797	N Not Elected
1984	European Parliament	North-West Italy		PR	28,319	Y Elected
1987	Chamber of Deputies	Naples–Caserta		PR	6,515	N Not Elected
1992	Chamber of Deputies	Rome–Viterbo–Latina–Frosinone		LP	3,470	Y Elected
1994	Chamber of Deputies	Padua		LP	36,881	Y Elected
1999	European Parliament	North-West Italy		LB	421,770	Y Elected
2004	European Parliament	North-East Italy		LB	50,281	Y Elected
2006	Chamber of Deputies	Veneto 2		RnP	–	Y Elected
2008	Senate of the Republic	Piedmont		RI	–	Y Elected
2018	Senate of the Republic	Rome		+E	112,425	Y Elected

First-past-the-post elections

See also

In Spanish: Emma Bonino para niños