On The Cover: Leymah Roberta Gbowee

Leymah Roberta Gbowee born in central Liberia on 1, Feb. 1972, is an African peace activist responsible for leading a women’s peace movement that brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. This led to the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, the first African nation with a female president. She, along with Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tawakkul Karman, were awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.” By 2002, Gbowee was recognized as the spokeswoman and inspirational leader of the Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace. Gbowee led thousands of Christian and Muslim women to gather in Monrovia for months. They prayed for peace, using Muslim and Christian prayers, and eventually held daily non-violent demonstrations and sit-ins in defiance of orders from tyrannical President Charles Taylor. The Liberian war ended officially weeks later, with the signing of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement on August 18, 2003. In addition to bringing an end to 14 years of warfare in Liberia, this women’s movement led to the 2005 election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as president of Liberia, the first elected woman leader of a country in Africa. Accolades:* 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate* 2011 Alumna of the Year, Eastern Mennonite University* 2011 Villanova Peace Award from Villanova University* 2010 Living Legends Award for Service to Humanity* 2010 John Jay Medal for Justice from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice* 2010 Joli Humanitarian Award from Riverdale Country School* 2009 Gruber Prize for Women’s Rights* 2009 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award. * 2008 Women’s eNews Leaders for the 21st Century Award * 2007 Blue Ribbon for Peace from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Ends