It is with the deepest sadness that the Women's Commission for Refugee Women
and Children announces that our beloved colleague, Mary Diaz, died February
12, 2004.
As executive director of the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
since 1994, Mary was an eloquent, devoted, tireless and effective advocate for
the protection and empowerment of women, adolescents and children affected by
war and persecution. She touched the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable
refugee women and children, as well as those who worked with her at the United
Nations, government offices and international and local nongovernmental
organizations. Mary had visited refugees and displaced women, children and
adolescents in refugee settings around the globe, including in Angola,
Tanzania, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Haiti and the Balkans. Under her
leadership, the Women's Commission grew from an organization with four staff
and a budget of $450,000 to an organization with more than 20 staff and a
budget of over $4 million.
Mary, who was 43 years old, enjoyed the respect, admiration and affection of
everyone who had the fortune to work closely with her.
Prior to working at the Women's Commission, Mary was director of refugee and
immigration services at Catholic Charities in Boston, and had previously
worked in the production department at a TV news station in Philadelphia. She
held a BA in International Relations from Brown University and an MA in
International Education from Harvard.
Her death is a loss to the international community. We will strive to carry on
her vision to improve the lives of refugee women, children and adolescents
around the world.
Mary's family has requested that donations in Mary's memory be made to the
Mary Diaz Fund for Refugee Girls. Donations may be sent to the Women's
Commission for Refugee Women and Children, 122 East 42nd Street, New York, NY
10168-1289.
A memorial service for Mary will be held on Saturday, February 21st, 2:00pm at
The Church of the Ascension, 221 West 107th Street, New York, NY 10025.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Note: The material contained in this communication comes to you from the
Forced Migration Discussion List which is moderated by the Refugee Studies
Centre (RSC), University of Oxford. It does not necessarily reflect the
views of the RSC or the University. If you re-print, copy, archive or
re-post this message please retain this disclaimer. Quotations or extracts
should include attribution to the original sources.
|