Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid
Encyclopedia
Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid (September 1, 1921 - April 16, 1997) was a Colombian
activist, politician and diplomat, a leader of the women's suffrage
movement in Colombia and the first woman to ever be elected to the Congress of Colombia
, former Ambassador to Austria
and Yugoslavia
, and former Minister of Communications
. As a member of the Colombian Constituent Assembly of 1954, she approved the Legislative Act No. 3, which granted women the right to vote.
in the city of Pereira
, but moved to Bogotá
at the behest of her mother so she could study in an academic school. Education for women was difficult at this time, only in 1934 were women allowed to pursue higher education and enter universities, but Arboleda supported by her mother was able to enroll in the University of Cauca
at the Faculty of Law in 1939, and becoming the first graduate lawyer of that institution. She had to confront head on the social prejudices of the time, she recalls how she was subjected to "tests" by her peers and instructors to prove her right to be among men. In Cali, she first at the house of a relative but had to move out because of their disapproval of her career and lifestyle choice, as she was surrounded by men. So she moved to a convent
to safeguard her and her family's reputation.
In 1946 she married Samuel Uribe Hoyos, a Colombian engineer with whom she had her only son, Sergio.
concerning the disparity in wages by the Ferrocarril del Pacífico to their employees. She later moved to Bogotá, and there was where she entered the women's suffrage
movement.
In April 1954, the National Feminist Organization (Organización Feminista Nacional) under the leadership of former First Lady Bertha Hernández Fernández, and María Currea de Aya was created and attracted women from different sides of the political spectrum, from Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid (liberal) to Josefina Valencia (conservative).
When General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
came to power in a military coup d'état, the women's suffrage movement had an ideological split between those who opposed military rule and those who supported the regime. Arbolena became an ardent opponent of military rule, and publicly voiced her concern and criticism of the President. Pressured by both sides, President Rojas Pinilla who had maintained the National Constituent Assembly
that had been started by the deposed Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
, named two women to the assembly, in spite of her opposition, Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid was named to represent the Liberal Party, and in representation of the Conservative Party was named Josefina Valencia Muñoz
, the first women to be part of a Colombian legistative body. As part of the assembly they joined forces and introduced the Legislative Act on the Citizenship of Women to be studied and debated by the assembly. On August 25, 1954 the plenary
of the National Constituent Assembly approved the Legislative Act No. 3 which modified Article 171 of the Colombian Constitution of 1886
, granting universal suffrage to women.
Arboleda's criticism of the government did not stop however, and she was harassed, spied, and threatened, the government had even pressured Bavaria S.A., where her husband worked, to fire Mr Uribe Hoyos as a way to get back at his wife. The escalation reached its apex when a group of men tried to kidnap her in front of her mother's flower shop. Following this incident, she went into exile with her husband and child to Boston
, Massachusetts
.
She returned to the country in 1958 at the eve of the end of the military rule, and she ran for office as a Senator of Colombia in the national elections that took place on March 17. She was elected Senator of Colombia for the Department of Valle del Cauca and was sworn in as the first woman senator of Colombia on July 20 when congress first convened following the hiatus of 4 years.
On September 1, 1961 she was appointed Minister of Communications
by President Alberto Lleras Camargo
, a post she served for the remainder of President Lleras's term.
Colombia's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Austria concurrent to Yugoslavia
and Minister Resident to the United Nations International Organizations in Vienna
.
In 1968 she was appointed by President Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations
serving under then ambassador Julio César Turbay Ayala
. It was during this assignment that she met Francisco Cuevas Cancino, Permanent Representative of Mexico
to the United Nations with whom she married in 1968 during a ceremony right on the grounds of the United Nations Headquarters.
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
.
UNESCO
Consultant for International Women's Year
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
activist, politician and diplomat, a leader of the women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
movement in Colombia and the first woman to ever be elected to the Congress of Colombia
Congress of Colombia
The Congress of the Republic of Colombia is the name given to Colombia's bicameral national legislature.The Congress of Colombia consists of the 102-seat Senate , and the 166-seat Chamber of Representatives ...
, former Ambassador to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, and former Minister of Communications
Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications
Ministry of Information Technology and Communications , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for overseeing the information and communication technologies, telecommunications and broadcasting industries....
. As a member of the Colombian Constituent Assembly of 1954, she approved the Legislative Act No. 3, which granted women the right to vote.
Early life
Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid was born in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia on September 1, 1921 to Fernando Arboleda López and Rosa Cadavid Medina. She was one of many sisters, Violeta Arboleta, Puma Arboleta, Sophie Arboleta, and Mirella Arboleta. She studied at a technical schoolTechnical school
Technical school is a general term used for two-year college which provide mostly employment-preparation skills for trained labor, such as welding, culinary arts and office management.-Associations supporting technical schools:...
in the city of Pereira
Pereira, Colombia
Pereira is the capital city of the Colombian department of Risaralda. It stands in the center of the western region of the country, located in a small valley that descends from a part of the western Andes mountain chain. Its strategic location in the coffee producing area makes the city an urban...
, but moved to Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
at the behest of her mother so she could study in an academic school. Education for women was difficult at this time, only in 1934 were women allowed to pursue higher education and enter universities, but Arboleda supported by her mother was able to enroll in the University of Cauca
University of Cauca
TheUniversidad del Cauca is a public institution of higher education among the 10 best universities in the country, currently in the process of institutional certification and accreditation CNA. Located in the city of Popayán, capital of the department of Cauca, Colombia...
at the Faculty of Law in 1939, and becoming the first graduate lawyer of that institution. She had to confront head on the social prejudices of the time, she recalls how she was subjected to "tests" by her peers and instructors to prove her right to be among men. In Cali, she first at the house of a relative but had to move out because of their disapproval of her career and lifestyle choice, as she was surrounded by men. So she moved to a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
to safeguard her and her family's reputation.
In 1946 she married Samuel Uribe Hoyos, a Colombian engineer with whom she had her only son, Sergio.
Career
She entered private practice in Cali, where she focused on labour lawLabour law
Labour law is the body of laws, administrative rulings, and precedents which address the legal rights of, and restrictions on, working people and their organizations. As such, it mediates many aspects of the relationship between trade unions, employers and employees...
concerning the disparity in wages by the Ferrocarril del Pacífico to their employees. She later moved to Bogotá, and there was where she entered the women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
movement.
In April 1954, the National Feminist Organization (Organización Feminista Nacional) under the leadership of former First Lady Bertha Hernández Fernández, and María Currea de Aya was created and attracted women from different sides of the political spectrum, from Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid (liberal) to Josefina Valencia (conservative).
When General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla was a Colombian politician, military officer, General of the Army and President of Colombia between 1953 and 1957.- Biographic data :...
came to power in a military coup d'état, the women's suffrage movement had an ideological split between those who opposed military rule and those who supported the regime. Arbolena became an ardent opponent of military rule, and publicly voiced her concern and criticism of the President. Pressured by both sides, President Rojas Pinilla who had maintained the National Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
that had been started by the deposed Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez
Roberto Urdaneta Arbeláez was a Colombian Conservative party politician who served as President of Colombia from November 1951 until June 1953, while President Laureano Gómez was absent due to health issues.- Biographic data :...
, named two women to the assembly, in spite of her opposition, Esmeralda Arboleda Cadavid was named to represent the Liberal Party, and in representation of the Conservative Party was named Josefina Valencia Muñoz
Josefina Valencia Muñoz
Josefina Valencia Muñóz was a Colombian activist and politician, a leader of the Women's suffrage movement in Colombia and the first woman to ever head a Colombian Ministry as well as the first female Governor of a Department of Colombia. As a Member of the Colombian Constituent Assembly of 1954,...
, the first women to be part of a Colombian legistative body. As part of the assembly they joined forces and introduced the Legislative Act on the Citizenship of Women to be studied and debated by the assembly. On August 25, 1954 the plenary
Plenary
Plenary is an adjective related to the noun plenum carrying a general connotation of fullness.Plenary may refer to:*Plenary session or meeting, the part of a conference when all members of all parties are in attendance,...
of the National Constituent Assembly approved the Legislative Act No. 3 which modified Article 171 of the Colombian Constitution of 1886
Colombian Constitution of 1886
The Colombian Constitution of 1886 was the constitution that created the Republic of Colombia. Before 1886, the country was called United States of Colombia. The coalition of moderate Liberals and Conservatives that ended the liberal hegemony and placed Rafael Nuñez in power repealed the...
, granting universal suffrage to women.
Arboleda's criticism of the government did not stop however, and she was harassed, spied, and threatened, the government had even pressured Bavaria S.A., where her husband worked, to fire Mr Uribe Hoyos as a way to get back at his wife. The escalation reached its apex when a group of men tried to kidnap her in front of her mother's flower shop. Following this incident, she went into exile with her husband and child to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
She returned to the country in 1958 at the eve of the end of the military rule, and she ran for office as a Senator of Colombia in the national elections that took place on March 17. She was elected Senator of Colombia for the Department of Valle del Cauca and was sworn in as the first woman senator of Colombia on July 20 when congress first convened following the hiatus of 4 years.
On September 1, 1961 she was appointed Minister of Communications
Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications
Ministry of Information Technology and Communications , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia responsible for overseeing the information and communication technologies, telecommunications and broadcasting industries....
by President Alberto Lleras Camargo
Alberto Lleras Camargo
Alberto Lleras Camargo was an important Colombian diplomat and political figure.He was a member of the Liberal Party of Colombia; he served as congressman , Minister of Education, Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the governments of Alfonso López Pumarejo and Eduardo...
, a post she served for the remainder of President Lleras's term.
Colombia's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Austria concurrent to Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and Minister Resident to the United Nations International Organizations in Vienna
United Nations Office at Vienna
The United Nations Office in Vienna is one of the four major UN office sites where several different UN agencies have a joint presence. The office complex is located in Vienna, the capital of Austria, and is part of the Vienna International Centre, a cluster of several major international...
.
In 1968 she was appointed by President Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Carlos Lleras Restrepo
Carlos Lleras Restrepo was a Colombian lawyer and political figure, President of Colombia .- Biographic data :...
Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations
Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations
The Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations is the Chief of Mission of the delegation of Colombia, and highest permanent representative of the Government of Colombia to the United Nations...
serving under then ambassador Julio César Turbay Ayala
Julio César Turbay Ayala
Julio César Turbay Ayala was a Colombian politician, member of the Colombian Liberal Party, elected president of the Senate of Colombia and and, was president of Colombia from 1978 to 1982.- Biographic data :...
. It was during this assignment that she met Francisco Cuevas Cancino, Permanent Representative of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to the United Nations with whom she married in 1968 during a ceremony right on the grounds of the United Nations Headquarters.
Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
The Commission on the Status of Women is a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council , one of the main UN organs within the United Nations.Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York to evaluate progress on gender...
.
UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
Consultant for International Women's Year
International Women's Year
International Women's Year was the name given to 1975 by the United Nations. Since that year March 8 has been celebrated as International Women's Day, and the United Nations Decade for Women, from 1976–1985, was also established.-International:...