Graça Machel

Mozambican humanitarian activist and politician · South Africa · Politicians · Born 1945 · age 81

Graça Machel is read about 480 times a day, in 42 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2021Honorary doctor of Leiden UniversityAward2020“People say I am powerful but I care more about impactful - in the work I do with children, adolescents, women or even institutions.”In their words6 March 2020"Celebrating powerful women: there is enough on the table for all of us."(6 March 2020)Read the whole statement

2019“The problem is not the consequences of what’s happening, it’s the root causes of why and how we got where we are as a society.”In their words"Machel speaking at a memorial service for student, Uyinene Mrwetyana, who was assaulted and murdered in 2019"Read the whole statement

Fellow of the African Academy of SciencesAward2018“African women need to be in the driving seat of national discourse,women need to be at the centre of our economies,they must also pro-actively seek to correct the status quo.”In their words16 November 2018"Graça Machel: Women Must Redesign the table, and not just expect to be at the table" (16 November 2018)Read the whole statement

2012“It is not just fear of a husband that makes a woman bow to these traditions. They are ingrained in her from her upbringing, the women learn to accept as if it's normal.”In their words17 December 2012"Graça Machel: We continue to fight" (17 December 2012)Read the whole statement

2009“The developed world needs to feel that these huge levels of poverty (are) a threat to their own security. When their interests are at risk, money can be found.”In their words9 October 2009"West must help Africa on poverty, education: Machel" (9 October 2009)Read the whole statement

“Tradition has developed into practices which overtime have become beliefs which in essence they put women in a position of inferiority.”In their words26 June 2009"Graca Machel: Traditional practices put women in positions of inferiority" (26 June 2009)Read the whole statement

2008Honorary Doctorate of Barcelona UniversityAward2005World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the ChildAward1999Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the CatholicAward1998North-South PrizeAwardPrincess of Asturias Award for International CooperationAward1995Nansen Refugee AwardAward1945Born17 October 1945

Also in Deutsch

Photos 4

Graça and Samora Machel hosting Romanian Communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu in Maputo, 1979

Machel during the WEF 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama greeting Machel at the memorial service for her late husband Nelson Mandela, Johannesburg, 2013.

In their own words 10

Graça Machel

10 statements, newest first

Women are not children; they are adults that know what they want to do. They should be recognised with their dignity and to start a business whenever they feel like it.
Mar 6, 2020, "Celebrating powerful women: there is enough on the table for all of us."(6 March 2020), Own words
People say I am powerful but I care more about impactful - in the work I do with children, adolescents, women or even institutions.
Mar 6, 2020, "Celebrating powerful women: there is enough on the table for all of us."(6 March 2020), Own words
We are a society where women, and children by the way, are not safe anywhere. Something absolutely and deeply wrong is happening in our society.
2019, "Machel speaking at a memorial service for student, Uyinene Mrwetyana, who was assaulted and murdered in 2019", Own words

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Awards

Honorary doctor of Leiden University2021

Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences2019

Honorary Doctorate of Barcelona University2008

World's Children's Prize for the Rights of the Child2005

Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic1999

Princess of Asturias Award for International Cooperation1998

North-South Prize1998

Nansen Refugee Award1995

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Honorary Fellow of the British Academy

Family

Graça Machel

Partners

Child Josina Z. Machel Their record only

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About this person

Graça Machel is a Mozambican politician and humanitarian. She is an international advocate for women's and children's rights and was made an honorary Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for her humanitarian work. Machel is also the only woman in modern history to have served as First Lady of two countries: South Africa and Mozambique. She is the widow of former President of Mozambique Samora Machel and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela.

Country

South Africa