Alicia Moreau de Justo

Who was Alicia Moreau de Justo?

Alicia Moreau de Justo was an Argentine physician, politician, pacifist and human rights activist.

Born to French parents in London, United Kingdom, the Moreau family moved to Argentina while Alicia was still a child. There she studied both for school teacher first, and then became the fourth woman to graduate as physician in the country.

She started her political activity in 1906 during the International Congress of Free Thought. She acquired connections in the Socialist Party, and worked as a collaborator at the International Socialist Magazine.

In 1910 she was part of the foundation of the Ateneo Popular association of high-school and university extension, and became its general secretary. Her political activity continued with the claims for working days of 8 hours. That same year she also participated in the organization of the First International Feminine Congress, and in 1911 initiated a campaign for the creation of schools for immigrants. In 1918 she founded the National Feminine Union.

Alicia Moreau married Juan B. Justo in 1922, with whom she was to have 3 children, adding to her surname 'de Justo'.