Malva Landa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malva Landa
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| Мальва Ноївна Ланда | |
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| Born | 4 August 1918 |
| Died | 3 July 2019 (aged 100) |
| Occupation | Human rights activist, geologist |
Malva Noyivna Landa (born August 4, 1918 – died July 3, 2019) was an important person from Ukraine. She was a geologist and a strong voice for human rights.
Malva Landa wrote many articles about human rights. She also translated important essays from English into Russian. She was a key member of the human rights movement in the Soviet Union. From 1976, she was part of the Moscow Helsinki Group. This group worked to make sure the Soviet Union followed human rights rules. For her work, she received the Officer of the Order of the Cross of Vytis from Lithuania in 2003.
Early Life and Education
Malva Noyivna Landa was born in Odessa. At that time, it was part of the Ukrainian State. Her birth happened during a time of big changes, like World War I.
Her family was Jewish. Her mother was a high school teacher. Her father was a professor who studied animals. In the 1930s, her father faced unfair treatment from the government.
From 1940 to 1945, Malva studied at the Moscow Geological Prospecting Institute. Later, in the 1950s, she led a team of geologists. They explored the Karatau region.
Fighting for Human Rights
Malva Landa was a founder of the Moscow Helsinki Group. This group worked to make the Soviet Union keep its promises about human rights. These promises were made in the 1975 Helsinki Accords.
Malva believed that the Soviet system did not respect human rights. She joined the Helsinki Group to show the world what was happening. The group mainly helped people who were unfairly put in prison for their beliefs.
Because she spoke out, Malva Landa faced difficulties. In 1980, she was sent away for five years. She had to live in a village in Kazakhstan. Even while in exile, she stayed a member of the Helsinki Group. She returned in 1984.
Later Years and Legacy
After the Soviet Union ended, Malva Landa continued to be active in Russia. She spoke out against conflicts, like the Chechen–Russian conflict. She also criticized President Vladimir Putin. In 2010, she signed a petition asking for Putin to leave office.
In 2015, when she was 97 years old, Malva Landa moved to Israel. She lived in Haifa with her son and his wife. She passed away there on July 3, 2019. Malva Landa is remembered for her bravery and her lifelong fight for human rights.
