Maureen Cecilia Clarke Clarke (born 22 November 1952) is a Costa Rican attorney and women's rights leader. She was president of the

Inter-American Commission of Women The Inter-American Commission of Women (, , ), abbreviated CIM, is an organization that falls within the Organization of American States. It was established in 1928 by the Sixth Pan-American Conference and is composed of one female representative ...

(CIM; 2013–2015).

Biography

Clarke was born in

Limón Limón (), also known as Puerto Limón, is the capital city of both the province and canton of the same name. One of Costa Rica's seven "middle cities" (i.e., main cities outside of San José's Greater Metropolitan Area), Limón has a populat ...

in 1952. She attended Elementary Esmeralda Jimenez Oreamuno until 1965, Secondary Liceo Luis Dobles Segreda until 1971, and graduated from the

University of Costa Rica The University of Costa Rica (Spanish: ''Universidad de Costa Rica,'' abbreviated UCR) is a public university in the Republic of Costa Rica, in Central America. Its main campus, Ciudad Universitaria Rodrigo Facio, is located in San Pedro Mo ...

in 1977 with a Bachelor of Law. Clarke worked for 16 years as a Legal Adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, during which she advised on international agreements and investments in the agricultural sector. She has served as Minister of Condición de la Mujer (2012–2013); First Deputy Mayor of San José (2003–2009); Minister of Justicia y Gracia (1995–1996); Minister of Gobernación y Policía (1994–1995); adviser in the Legislative Assembly (1999–2002), and as a coordinator with Red Centroamericana de Mujeres Rurales, Indígenas y Campesinas (RECMURIC). She has also served as the Executive President of the National Women's Institute and President of the Inter-American Commission of Women of the OAS.

References

1952 births Living people Costa Rican women's rights activists Costa Rican women activists People from Limón Province 20th-century Costa Rican lawyers Government ministers of Costa Rica University of Costa Rica alumni Women government ministers of Costa Rica Female justice ministers 21st-century Costa Rican women politicians 21st-century Costa Rican politicians 20th-century Costa Rican women lawyers {{CostaRica-law-bio-stub