Azeb Wolde Giorghis was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Ethiopia between 1974 and 1977. She was the first female to hold both positions in the country. Before her appointment as Deputy Prime Minister, Wolde Giorghis was the Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations from 1969 to 1974. She was also the first female ambassador from Ethiopia to the United Nations. Wolde Giorghis was born in Addis Ababa in 1928 and was educated in the United States. She was an active member of the Ethiopian Women’s National Movement and was a prominent advocate for the rights of women in Ethiopia. She died in 2002.
Early Life and Education
Azeb Wolde Giorghis was born in Gondar, Ethiopia in 1932. She was the daughter of a respected lawyer and studied in Addis Ababa, graduating with a degree in law. After graduating, she worked as a lawyer and as a teacher, eventually becoming a leader in the Ethiopian Women’s Movement. Giorghis was a prominent figure in the Ethiopian revolution, leading the women’s wing of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party and participating in the struggle against imperial rule in Ethiopia. She was also an advocate for women’s rights and a leader of the Ethiopian Women’s Movement, working to fight for gender equality in the country. Giorghis is also remembered for her humanitarian work, setting up numerous charities and organizations to support those in need. She traveled extensively and was a respected figure in the international community. Giorghis passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy of leadership and advocacy.
Professional Career
Azeb Wolde Giorghis was born in Ethiopia in 1949 and is recognized as one of the most influential female African leaders of her time. Her professional career began in the 1970s, when she joined the Ethiopian Women’s Association and soon became a leader in the organization. She was later elected to the Ethiopian Parliament in 1990 and served as its first female deputy speaker. During her tenure in Parliament, Azeb advocated for women’s rights and worked to pass laws that would protect them from discrimination and abuse. She also served as a delegate to the United Nations and was an active member of several international organizations. Throughout her career, Azeb has been a champion of women’s rights, education, and economic empowerment. Her activism has earned her numerous awards and honors, and she continues to be an inspiration to many women throughout the world.
Accomplishments
Azeb Wolde Giorghis is a renowned Ethiopian athlete who won an Olympic gold medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in the 1960 Rome Olympics. Her athletic career began in her native Ethiopia where she was a student at the Addis Ababa University. She was an exceptional runner who excelled in the 800, 1500, and 3000 meters and was the Ethiopian champion in all three events.
Azeb Wolde Giorghis’s most impressive accomplishment was her win at the 1960 Rome Olympics. She ran a personal best time of 10 minutes, 7.4 seconds and claimed the gold medal in the 3000 meter steeplechase. Her Olympic victory was a major accomplishment for Ethiopia and for African women athletes.
Azeb Wolde Giorghis also had a successful career as an international athlete. She was a five-time African record holder in the 3000 meters and won numerous medals in international competitions. In 1960, she set a new world record for the 3000 meter steeplechase in the Rome Olympics.
Azeb Wolde Giorghis’s accomplishments did not end with her Olympic gold medal. She was also an accomplished coach and was the Ethiopian National Track and Field Coach from 1964 to 1972. She also served as the President of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation from 1972 to 1976.
Azeb Wolde Giorghis had a remarkable career as an athlete, coach, and administrator. She is an inspiration to women athletes everywhere and her accomplishments will continue to be remembered for years to come.
Personal Life
Azeb Wolde Giorghis was born on August 12, 1966, in the town of Enderta, Ethiopia. The daughter of an army officer, she studied psychology at the University of Addis Ababa before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1993 to pursue a master’s degree in International Relations at Georgetown University. After completing her studies, she worked in the International Development sector for the United Nations and other organizations.
In 2003, Wolde Giorghis returned to Ethiopia and became the country’s first female Foreign Minister in 2005. She was praised for her efforts to promote human rights and women’s empowerment, and was appointed to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in 2006. She has since served in a variety of senior roles, including as a member of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council.
Outside of her political work, Wolde Giorghis is an active member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and has written several books about her experiences. She serves as a mentor to young women in Ethiopia and is an advocate for the advancement of women and girls.
Legacy
Azeb Wolde Giorghis is a name that will forever live in the hearts of Ethiopians. She was an Ethiopian diplomat, a pioneer for women’s rights and a symbol of strength. She was the first Ethiopian woman to become a diplomat and the first woman to serve in the African Union Commission. Her legacy of courage, resilience, and determination encourages women around the world to strive for equal opportunity and justice.
Azeb Wolde Giorghis was a fierce advocate for women’s rights in Ethiopia and Africa. She was a leader in the United Nations and in the African Union. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the rights of women were respected and that they had equal access to education, health care, and employment. She also fought for the abolition of female genital mutilation and child marriage. Her efforts were instrumental in the passing of a law that prohibited female genital mutilation in Ethiopia.
Azeb Wolde Giorghis was a strong advocate for peace and stability in Africa. She was an outspoken critic of the Ethiopian government’s human rights abuses and of the country’s military interventions in Somalia and Eritrea. She also advocated for the peaceful resolution of conflicts in the region.
Azeb Wolde Giorghis’s legacy will remain with us for many generations. Her courage and determination to fight for human rights and peace in Ethiopia and Africa are an example to us all. She will continue to serve as an inspiration to those who wish to follow in her footsteps and work to create a better world for all.
Awards and Recognition
Azeb Wolde Giorghis is a celebrated Ethiopian writer and poet, who has been lauded for her work in literature and activism. She has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions throughout her career, including the prestigious Honorary Distinction from the Ethiopian Writers Association, the Yared Prize for her lifetime achievements, and the Addis Ababa University Alumni Award of Excellence. Additionally, she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2008, becoming the first Ethiopian woman to be nominated for the prestigious award. She was also awarded the Order of the Star of Ethiopia, one of Ethiopia’s highest honors, in recognition of her contribution to literature and activism. Azeb Wolde Giorghis’s awards and recognitions are a testament to her immense impact on the Ethiopian literary landscape, and she is an inspiration to women and writers around the world.
FAQs About the Azeb Wolde Giorghis Biography
Q1: Who was Azeb Wolde Giorghis?
A1: Azeb Wolde Giorghis was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the first female Foreign Minister of Ethiopia. She was also the first female African head of state in the world.
Q2: What was Azeb Wolde Giorghis’s career?
A2: Azeb Wolde Giorghis was a member of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party, holding numerous positions in the party before becoming Foreign Minister in 1991. She was the first woman to hold this position in Ethiopia.
Q3: What are some of Azeb Wolde Giorghis’s accomplishments?
A3: Azeb Wolde Giorghis was instrumental in the peace negotiations between Ethiopia and Eritrea. She was also a key figure in the negotiations to end the civil war in Ethiopia. In addition, she was an advocate for women’s rights and education in Ethiopia.
Conclusion
Azeb Wolde Giorghis was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served her country for many years. She was a strong advocate for women’s rights and an active leader in the struggle for Ethiopia’s independence. As the first female leader in Ethiopia, she was a pioneer in her country and her legacy will be remembered for generations to come. Despite the many challenges she faced, she was able to make a lasting impact in her country and beyond. Azeb Wolde Giorghis will continue to be remembered as a champion of social justice and women’s rights.
