Guo Jianmei facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guo Jianmei
|
|
|---|---|
| 郭建梅 | |
 |
|
| Pronunciation | Guō Jiànméi |
| Born | March 1960 |
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Spouse(s) | Liu Zhenyun |
| Children | Liu Yulin |
Guo Jianmei (Chinese: 郭建梅; pinyin: Guō Jiànméi) is a brave Chinese lawyer. She was born in March 1960. She works to help people, especially women, understand and use their legal rights. She also leads a group that helps women with legal problems. In 2005, she was one of 1000 women nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, a very important award for people who work for peace. Guo Jianmei has received several big awards for her work, including the Simone De Beauvoir Prize in 2010, the International Women of Courage Award in 2011, and the Right Livelihood Award in 2019. She is married to a writer named Liu Zhenyun.
Contents
Guo Jianmei's Journey
Early Life and Inspiration
Guo Jianmei grew up in a poor farming family in Hua County, Henan Province, China. She saw how difficult life was for many people, especially women, in her village and even in her own family. This experience made her want to spend her life helping to make things better for women in China. She wanted to make sure women knew their rights and could get fair treatment.
Education and Early Work
When she was 18, Guo Jianmei went to Law School at Peking University, a famous university in China. She finished her studies in 1983. After graduating, she worked for the Chinese government in different legal departments. She worked at the Ministry of Justice, which is in charge of laws. She also worked with groups like the All China Federation of Women and the All China Association of Lawyers. These experiences helped her learn a lot about the legal system.
Helping Women Through Law
In 1995, Guo Jianmei attended a big international meeting in Beijing about women's rights and law. Later that year, she and some other people started a special group at Beijing University. It was called the Women's Legal Research and Services Centre. This was the first group in China that helped women with legal problems for free. It was a non-profit organization, meaning it didn't try to make money. This center became very important in protecting the rights of women in China.
Over time, the center helped many women. However, in 2010, Beijing University officially separated from the center. Then, in 2016, the Chinese government ordered the center to close down. Even with these challenges, Guo Jianmei continued her important work.
Guo Jianmei also helped change laws in China. She worked on updates to China's Marriage Law in 2001. She also helped create new rules for legal aid in 2003. Legal aid means getting legal help when you can't afford a lawyer. She has written 8 books and edited other books that help people understand everyday laws and how to get legal help.
Awards and Recognition
Guo Jianmei has been recognized around the world for her dedication to women's rights.
- In 2010, she received the Simone De Beauvoir Prize. This award honors people who work for human rights, especially women's rights.
- Also in 2010, the International Labor Organisation (ILO) named her China's first ambassador against AIDS discrimination. This means she helped fight unfair treatment of people with AIDS.
- In 2011, the United States Department of State gave her the International Women of Courage Award. This award celebrates women who show great bravery and leadership in helping others.
- In 2019, she received the Right Livelihood Award. This award is sometimes called the "Alternative Nobel Prize." She earned it for her groundbreaking and steady work in making sure women in China have their rights protected.
