Adolfo Perez Esquivel

Adolfo Pérez Esquivel received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1980 for his non-violent struggle for human rights in Latin America, particularly in his native Argentina. Throughout his campaigns he has worked closely with Christian activists, receiving several commendations from the Vatican. During the 1970s he brought international attention to the Argentinian dictatorship's many abuses, including the recruitment of children by the military, and subsequently experienced torture and extended detention without trial. One of his most important contributions was the founding of the "Servicio Paz y Justicia" (SERPAJ), an organization inspired by the values of the Gospel, which initially focused on revealing the atrocities committed by the military regime in Argentina and then expanded to address other issues of human rights and social justice throughout the region. He is the author of the 1995 book, "Caminando con el Pueblo" which relates his experiences working with the masses in Latin America.