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María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés (born September 7, 1964) is an Ecuadorian
linguist Linguistics is the scientific study of language. The areas of linguistic analysis are syntax (rules governing the structure of sentences), semantics (meaning), Morphology (linguistics), morphology (structure of words), phonetics (speech sounds ...
,
poet A poet is a person who studies and creates poetry. Poets may describe themselves as such or be described as such by others. A poet may simply be the creator (thought, thinker, songwriter, writer, or author) who creates (composes) poems (oral t ...
,
politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...
, and
diplomat A diplomat (from ; romanization, romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, nongovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one ...
. Currently, is Executive Director of GWL Voices, an NGO dedicated to achieve a gender-equal multilateral system. She served as an advisor on biodiversity and indigenous peoples (1999-2005) and was the regional director for
South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a considerably smaller portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It can also be described as the southern Subregion#Americas, subregion o ...
(2005-2007) at the
International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the stat ...
(IUCN). Espinosa Garcés was
Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...
's Minister of Foreign Affairs twice, from 2007 to 2008 and then from 2017 to 2018. She also served as ambassador and
permanent representative to the United Nations A permanent representative to the United Nations (sometimes called a "UN ambassador")"History of Ambassadors", United States Mission to the United Nations, March 2011, webpagUSUN-a. is the head of a country's diplomatic mission to the United Natio ...
in New York (2008-2009) and Geneva (2014-2017), and as Ecuador's Minister of National Defense (2012-2014). In June 2018, she was elected
President of the United Nations General Assembly The president of the United Nations General Assembly is a position voted by representatives in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on a yearly basis. The president is the chair and presiding officer of the General Assembly. Election ...
for the 73rd session by a two-thirds vote of the member states. Espinosa Garcés became the fourth woman in the seventy-three-year history of the United Nations to be elected President of the General Assembly. Besides her political career, she is also a poet and essayist.


Education

María Fernanda Espinosa's academic journey began at the French-Ecuadorian Lycée La Condamine in Quito, where she earned her Baccalaureate from 1978 to 1982.Poesía y ecología, dos pasiones de María Espinosa
on
El Universo ( Spanish for "The Universe") is one of the largest daily newspapers in Ecuador. It was founded in 1921 and the first edition was published September 16 of the same year. Its headquarters are located in Guayaquil. The newspaper has been publi ...
, 7 January 2007
She then pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE), graduating in 1988. In 1991, she completed post-graduate studies in
Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, society, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behav ...
and
Political Science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Quito. Two years later, in 1993, Espinosa earned a Master’s Degree in
Social Sciences Social science (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of society, societies and the Social relation, relationships among members within those societies. The term was former ...
and Amazonian Studies from FLACSO. Her thesis focused on Conservation policies and managing natural protected areas in the northern Amazonian region of Ecuador. From 1994 to 1996, María Fernanda pursued doctoral studies in
Geography Geography (from Ancient Greek ; combining 'Earth' and 'write', literally 'Earth writing') is the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. Geography is an all-encompassing discipline that seeks an understanding o ...
at
Rutgers University Rutgers University ( ), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of three campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's C ...
in New Jersey, although she did not complete the degree. During this period, she also became a Fellow at the Center for the Critical Analysis of Contemporary Culture at Rutgers University from 1996 to 1997. Espinosa’s academic and research career then led her to become an Associate Professor and Researcher at FLACSO, where she established and coordinated the Program on Socio-Environmental Studies. Her work during this time concentrated on the Amazon, sustainable development, and climate change. From 1999 to 2005, Espinosa served as an advisor on
biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...
,
climate change Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...
, and
indigenous peoples There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...
’ policies. She was later appointed as the Regional Director for South America at the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...
(IUCN), a position she held from 2005 to 2007 before transitioning into her political and diplomatic career. Espinosa is also a prolific writer, having published several works of poetry and essays. In 1990, she received the National Poetry Prize of Ecuador for her literary contributions.Hoja de Vida
on Ministry of National Defense of Ecuador


Political career

María Fernanda Espinosa began her career working with indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian
Amazon Amazon most often refers to: * Amazon River, in South America * Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin * Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company * Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...
, focusing on the stewardship of
tropical rainforest Tropical rainforests are dense and warm rainforests with high rainfall typically found between 10° north and south of the Equator. They are a subset of the tropical forest biome that occurs roughly within the 28° latitudes (in the torrid zo ...
s. Her early work involved collaboration with civil society organizations and academic institutions, eventually leading her to serve as an advisor on
biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...
and
climate change policy The politics of climate change results from different perspectives on how to respond to climate change. Global warming is driven largely by the emissions of greenhouse gases due to human economic activity, especially the burning of fossil fuel ...
. From 1989 to 1990, she worked as a project officer for the Natura Foundation of Ecuador, where she connected biodiversity conservation with local livelihoods. In 1994, Espinosa worked as a
UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...
consultant in
Niger Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state Geography of Niger#Political geography, bordered by Libya to the Libya–Niger border, north-east, Chad to the Chad–Niger border, east ...
on a pilot project to improve environmental education and develop primary environmental care initiatives with rural women. She also served as a consultant for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Forests in New York in 1995, focusing on indigenous knowledge and civil society engagement regarding forests and intellectual property rights. Espinosa founded and directed the Socio-Environmental Studies Program at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Quito from 1996 to 1999, further solidifying her role as a leader in environmental issues. Between 1999 and 2005, she served as an advisor on biodiversity and indigenous peoples for the
International Union for Conservation of Nature The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the stat ...
(IUCN), participating in international environmental negotiations related to biodiversity, genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and intellectual property rights. In 2005, Espinosa was appointed Regional Director for South America at
IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...
, based in Quito. In this role, she led the establishment and implementation of the Regional South American Program, significantly enhancing the organization’s technical and financial capabilities to advise and support governments in sustainable development planning, programming, and policymaking. Her work emphasized the connection between poverty eradication and biodiversity conservation, strengthening the Regional Office's capacity to support governments in negotiations related to biodiversity, climate change, forest management, and protected areas. During her time at IUCN, María Fernanda developed a regional program aligned with the priorities of South American governments to address environmental challenges related to the
Millennium Development Goals In the United Nations, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 created following the Millennium Summit, following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Declaration. These w ...
, focusing on
sustainable development Sustainable development is an approach to growth and Human development (economics), human development that aims to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.United Nations General ...
, poverty eradication, and
social equality Social equality is a state of affairs in which all individuals within society have equal rights, liberties, and status, possibly including civil rights, freedom of expression, autonomy, and equal access to certain public goods and social servi ...
. She positioned IUCN as a crucial regional stakeholder, recognized as an authoritative expert, technical assistance provider, and advocacy leader on environmental issues. Espinosa coordinated common environmental strategies among the states of the region, mobilized resources, facilitated donor cooperation, and provided technical, scientific, and political advice to governments on environmental and sustainable development issues. She also established advocacy strategies for biodiversity conservation among political leaders and actively participated in the Conferences of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its ...
and the Convention on Climate Change. Throughout her early career, Espinosa consistently focused on connecting biodiversity conservation with sustainable development and the empowerment of indigenous communities. She contributed to initiatives by various organizations, including UNICEF, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, the Central Bank of Ecuador, and the Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano. Her work laid a strong foundation for her later roles in government and international diplomacy.


Government of Rafael Correa

Under President
Rafael Correa Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado (; born 6 April 1963) is an Ecuadorian politician and economist who served as the 45th president of Ecuador from 2007 to 2017. The leader of the PAIS Alliance political movement from its foundation until 2017, Corr ...
, María Fernanda Espinosa held multiple key roles in the Ecuadorian government, reflecting her versatility and expertise across various domains. From January to December 2007, she served as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Commerce, and Integration, where she established the New Ecuadorian Foreign Policy for 2007-2010. During her tenure, she reorganized the Ministry to include foreign trade responsibilities and promoted regional political and trade integration initiatives. Notably, she initiated bi-national coordination cabinets between Ecuador and
Peru Peru, officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pac ...
to address issues related to border development, security, defense, and economic cooperation, which furthered the implementation of the Peace Agreement signed with Peru in 1998. Following her role as Foreign Minister, Espinosa was appointed Special Advisor to the President of the Constituent Assembly, Alberto Acosta, from December 2007 to February 2008. In this position, she played a crucial role in the constitutional process that led to Ecuador's 2008 Constitution, particularly in drafting sections on the rights of nature, indigenous peoples, and the plurinational state, as well as areas concerning security, defense, and international affairs. In March 2008, María Fernanda became Ecuador’s first female Permanent Representative to the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
in New York, a position she held until September 2009. During her time as ambassador, she was appointed by the President of the General Assembly as Co-facilitator of the Special Working Group on the Revitalization of the Work of the General Assembly. Espinosa also led Ecuador’s participation in international negotiations addressing the
2008 financial crisis The 2008 financial crisis, also known as the global financial crisis (GFC), was a major worldwide financial crisis centered in the United States. The causes of the 2008 crisis included excessive speculation on housing values by both homeowners ...
, culminating in the 2009 Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development. Her contributions extended to environmental and climate change negotiations, and she actively engaged in discussions on South-South cooperation and system-wide coherence, including the establishment of
UN Women The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity charged with working for gender equality and the empowerment of women. UN Women is charged with advocating for the righ ...
. From October 2009 till November 2012 she was Minister of Natural and Cultural Heritage, where she led the Yasuní-ITT Initiative. As the head of this sectoral cabinet, she oversaw the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Tourism, and the Governing Council of the Galapagos Islands. In this capacity, she implemented policies to recover and safeguard Ecuador’s cultural and natural heritage, spearheaded the National Plan Against Racism and Discrimination, and represented Ecuador in international negotiation processes on climate change and sustainable development. Her leadership in the Yasuní ITT Initiative, which sought to avoid
CO2 emissions Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities intensify the greenhouse effect. This contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide (), from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is the main cause of climate change. The la ...
by leaving oil reserves untapped in exchange for international compensation, marked a significant contribution to global environmental discourse. In November 2012, Espinosa was appointed Minister of National Defense, becoming the third woman to hold this position in Ecuador. She oversaw the Armed Forces during a sensitive period marked by internal conflict in neighboring
Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...
. Espinosa led reforms in social security management, education, training, and health policies for military forces, and she was instrumental in creating the National Defense Political Agenda 2014-2017. Her tenure also saw the establishment of a Gender Equality Policy within the Armed Forces and the convening of the first international cooperation network of Women Ministers and Leaders of Defense. Espinosa’s efforts modernized the Armed Forces, adapting them to the new constitutional framework and addressing contemporary security threats such as cybersecurity, organized crime, and natural disasters. In October 2014, María Fernanda Espinosa was appointed Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, a position she held until May 2017. During this period, she was elected chair of the
Human Rights Council The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is a United Nations body whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world. The Council has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis. The ...
’s working group on negotiating a legally binding instrument on transnational corporations and human rights. Her work was a milestone in the Council's deliberations, as it was the first time the implications of transnational corporations on human rights were discussed for consideration in a legally binding instrument. In her capacity as Permanent Representative, she defended the Ecuadorian Government's decision to grant political asylum to
Julian Assange Julian Paul Assange ( ; Hawkins; born 3 July 1971) is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He came to international attention in 2010 after WikiLeaks published a series of News leak, leaks from Chels ...
in a discussion on arbitrary detention in September 2016 as a matter of international law and human rights. Espinosa played a significant role in international bodies such as the ILO, WHO, UNCTAD, and others, contributing to the institutional reform of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the articulation of the Human Rights Council's work with the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. She coordinated Ecuador's participation in key international mechanisms and conventions, including those related to disarmament, migration, and environmental protection. She served as lead negotiator for the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD), also known as Rio 2012, Rio+20 (), or Earth Summit 2012 was the third international conference on sustainable development aimed at reconciling the economic and environmental goals ...
(Rio+20), and the United Nations Climate Change Conferences of the Parties in Copenhagen (
COP 15 COP 15 may refer to: *2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference * 2021/2022 Convention on Biological Diversity Conference **2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference The 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) to ...
), Cancun ( COP 16), Paris ( COP 21), and Bonn ( COP 23), where she led the common position of the 34 members of the
Community of Latin American and Caribbean States The Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) is a bloc of Latin American and Caribbean states, consisting of 33 countries, and has five official working languages. It is seen as an alternative to the Organization of American Stat ...
(CELAC). Government of Lenin Moreno On 24 May 2017 Espinosa was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of President Lenín Moreno.


United Nations Assembly President

On June 5, 2018, Espinosa was elected as the fourth woman president of the
United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; , AGNU or AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its Seventy-ninth session of th ...
and the first woman from Latin America and the Caribbean to preside over this body, since its foundation in 1945. A total of 128 member states, out of the 193 that make up the United Nations, voted for the candidature of Espinosa who ran for the position against the permanent representative of
Honduras Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, ...
to the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
, Mary Elizabeth Flores. During her tenure as the 73rd President of the United Nations General Assembly, Espinosa convened a group of women leaders to promote awareness and international commitment to boosting political participation of women. She held several high-level events on women’s empowerment and political participation and gathered woman Heads of State and Government and other leading female figures to advance the gender equality agenda. During her presidency she chaired the adoption of the
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants The Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP; full title: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas) is a United Nations General Assembly resolution on human rights with "universal und ...
in November 2018, the Global Compact on Refugees and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in December 2018. Espinosa launched the
International Year of Indigenous Languages The International Year of Indigenous Languages was a United Nations observance in 2019 that aimed to raise awareness of the consequences of the endangerment of Indigenous languages across the world, with an aim to establish a link between langu ...
in February 2019 and spearheaded the high-level event on culture and sustainable development in May 2019. As president of the United Nations General Assembly, she promoted a worldwide campaign against the use of single-use plastics and achieved the complete elimination of single-use plastics in the United Nations headquarters in New York and Geneva.


Post UNGA presidency

In 2020, Espinosa was nominated by the heads of government of
Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda is a Sovereign state, sovereign archipelagic country composed of Antigua, Barbuda, and List of islands of Antigua and Barbuda, numerous other small islands. Antigua and Barbuda has a total area of 440 km2 (170 sq mi), ...
and Sant Vincent and the Grenadines for the position of secretary-general of the
Organization of American States The Organization of American States (OAS or OEA; ; ; ) is an international organization founded on 30 April 1948 to promote cooperation among its member states within the Americas. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, the OAS is ...
. She ran against incumbent
Luis Almagro Luis Leonardo Almagro Lemes (; born June 1, 1963) is a Uruguayan lawyer, diplomat, and politician who served as the 10th Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) from 2015 to 2025. A former member of the Broad Front, Alm ...
, nominated by Colombia. Almagro won his reappointment with 23 votes against 10 in the election held on 20 March that year. Her home country of Ecuador did not support her candidacy. Before starting her political and diplomatic career, Espinosa was Associate Professor and Researcher at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences FLACSO, where she established and coordinated the Program on Socio-Environmental Studies. She served as advisor in
biodiversity Biodiversity is the variability of life, life on Earth. It can be measured on various levels. There is for example genetic variability, species diversity, ecosystem diversity and Phylogenetics, phylogenetic diversity. Diversity is not distribut ...
,
climate change Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...
, and
indigenous peoples There is no generally accepted definition of Indigenous peoples, although in the 21st century the focus has been on self-identification, cultural difference from other groups in a state, a special relationship with their traditional territ ...
’ policies (1999-2005), and later as regional director for South America of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature UICN (2005-2007).


Other activities

*
International Crisis Group The International Crisis Group (ICG; also known as the Crisis Group) is a global non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 1995. It is a think tank, used by policymakers and academics, conducting research and analysis on global crises. ...
(ICG), Board of Trustees (since 2023) *
International Gender Champions International Gender Champions (IGC) is a network of female and male leaders of member states, international organizations, and civil society working for gender equality. It is an initiative of Women@TheTable, and was founded in 2015 by Caitlin Kr ...
(IGC). Member *
World Future Council The World Future Council (WFC) is a German non-profit foundation with its headquarters in Hamburg. It works to pass on a healthy and sustainable planet with just and peaceful societies to future generations. FuturePolicy.org The futurepol ...
, MemberCounciller Biographies
on World Future Council
*
World Academy of Art and Science The World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), founded in 1960, is an international non-governmental scientific organization and global network of more than 800 scientists, artists, and scholars in more than 90 countries. It serves as a forum for s ...
, Fellow * Fellow at the Bosch Academy. * Commissioner to
the Lancet ''The Lancet'' is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, founded in England in 1823. It is one of the world's highest-impact academic journals and also one of the oldest medical journals still in publication. The journal publishes ...
COVID-19 Commission. * Member of the High-Level Advisory Council for the
United Nations Alliance of Civilizations The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative that attempts to "galvanize international action against extremism" through the forging of international, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The Allia ...
, UNAOC. * Member of the Multi-Stakeholder Steering Committee of the Generation Equality Forum and the Beijing + 25. * Member of the Political Advisory Panel of the Universal Health Coverage 2030 Movement, UHC2030. * Executive Director and Member of GWL Voices. * Member of the Strategic Committee of the SDSN Science Panel for the Amazon, SPA. * Member of the UNDP Human Development Report Advisory Panel on
Human Security Human security is a paradigm for understanding global social vulnerability, vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security through military security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be ...
. * Founding Member of the Centre for UN Studies at the
University of Buckingham The University of Buckingham (UB) is a non-profit private university#United Kingdom, private university in Buckingham, England, and the oldest of the country's six private universities. It was founded as the University College at Buckingham (U ...
. Espinosa acts as a Goodwill Ambassador for the Latin American and Caribbean Fund for the Development of the Indigenous Peoples, FILAC, and for the Common Home of Humanity.


Awards and honors

- Awarded with the 2020
Sundance Film Festival The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. The festival has acted ...
Women’s Leadership Celebration. The 7th annual event, hosted by Zions Bank, January 2020. - The 2019 Rehabilitation International Award for Outstanding Achievements in innovation “for her Innovative work in advancing the rights of persons with disabilities globally”. - Declared 100 Women BBC as one of the 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2019. - The Atahualpa Medal for Merit, Gran Cruz (Grand Cross) class, September 24, 2014, delivered by the Armed Forces of Ecuador. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condecoraciones de Ecuador - The Orden “El Sol del Perú” ( The Order of the Sun of Peru), Gran Cruz (Grand Cross) class, February 23, 2007.


References


External links

* , - , - , - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Espinosa, Maria Fernanda 1964 births Living people Defence ministers of Ecuador Ecuadorian poets Ecuadorian women poets Female defence ministers Female foreign ministers Ministers of foreign affairs of Ecuador PAIS Alliance politicians People from Salamanca Permanent representatives of Ecuador to the United Nations Permanent representatives of Ecuador to the United Nations at Geneva Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador alumni Women government ministers of Ecuador Ecuadorian women ambassadors Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly 21st-century Ecuadorian women politicians