By honoring Beatriz Paredes Rangel, the Socialist International and the Peña Gómez Award Board wanted to highlight the importance of inspirational women leaders in Latin America. As explained in the speeches of Peggy Cabral Gómez and Miguel Vargas, Chair of the SI Latin America Committee, Beatriz has all the characteristics that can convince people that to change the world there is a need for politicians who, through their personality, honesty and dedication, can make a difference.
A champion of women’s rights at the helm of Mexican politics
Beatriz Elena Paredes was born on 18 August 1953 in San Esteban Tizatlán, Tlaxcala, Mexico. She is the daughter of politician Higinio Paredes Ramos. She studied sociology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), ultimately graduating in 2016 after 30 years of academic studies. Paredes later received a postgraduate degree in Latin American Literature from the University of Barcelona.
She began her political career at the age of 21 as a Tlaxcala state deputy, serving from 1974 to 1977. She served as advisor to the Governor of Tlaxcala from 1978 to 1980. In 1982, she was appointed Undersecretary for Agrarian Reform by President Miguel de la Madrid.
In 1987, she was elected Governor of Tlaxcala at the age of 33. Her election made her the second female governor in Mexico's history, after Griselda Álvarez, who served as Governor of Colima. She served in the position until 1992.
In 1992, she was nominated for the position of PRI secretary-general, replacing Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta. Her nomination made her the first woman nominated for national leadership in the PRI.
President Carlos Salinas appointed her Ambassador to Cuba in 1993. Paredes served in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate, and was President of the Chamber of Deputies from 2001 to 2002.
Paredes has occupied different positions in the PRI, mostly representing the rural and indigenous wings of the party. She ran for the presidency of her party in 2002 but lost to Roberto Madrazo in a contested race. In 2007, she ran again for the party's presidency and won by a large margin. She resigned from the position in 2011 and was succeeded by Humberto Moreira.
