Women's Health and Human Rights

Anne Firth Murray, born in 1935 in Whanganui, New Zealand, has dedicated her life to advancing women's rights and global health initiatives through education, philanthropy, and activism. Her diverse career began with roles as a writer at the United Nations and editor at prestigious university presses including Stanford, Oxford, and Yale, before transitioning to philanthropy as director of environment and international population programs at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation from 1978 to 1987. Her most significant contribution came in 1987 when she founded the Global Fund for Women, serving as its founding president until 1996, establishing a worldwide network supporting women's human rights. Since 2001, she has been teaching at Stanford University, focusing on international women's health, human rights, and notably, a unique course on "love as a force for social justice" since 2010. Her academic work is complemented by two influential books: "Paradigm Found: Leading and Managing for Positive Change" and "From Outrage to Courage: The Unjust and Unhealthy Situation of Women in Poorer Countries and What They Are Doing About It." Her contributions to global women's rights and health earned her a joint nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 along with 999 other women activists, and in 2022, she received the Society of Woman Geographers Outstanding Achievement Award.