Beatriz Merino
Prime Minister, Peru, 2003

Beatriz Merino was the first female Prime Minister of Peru. She held office between 23 June 2003 and 12 December 2003. Before serving as Prime Minister, she graduated from Harvard with a Master’s degree in law. Merino also is widely recognized for her expertise and work with women's issues. She was director of the Women’s leadership program, now known as Gender Equality in Development Unit, at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington D.C. to support and finance projects to enhance women’s leadership in Latin America. She was a member of the board of directors for the International Women Forum; and a steering committee member for the Business Women's Initiative against HIV/AIDS. Merino also worked extensively on commercial, labor, corporate and environmental legislation. She was the first Peruvian woman to serve on the Commission of Andean Jurists. At Lima University, she was the director of foreign cooperation and of the Master’s program on tax revenue and fiscal policies. She has authored two books, "Peruvian Women in the XX Century Legislation" and "Marriage and Rape: Debate of Article 178 of the Peruvian Criminal Code." Merino is now the National Ombudsman of Peru.