VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #1642/01 3342125
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 302125Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0115
INFO RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ

UNCLAS LA PAZ 001642 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR S/GWI AND WHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KWMN PREL KPAO BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIAN NOMINATION: THE 2010 SECRETARY'S AWARD FOR 
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN OF COURAGE 
 
REF: STATE 016553 
 
¶1.       Per REFTEL, Embassy La Paz nominates Dr. Marina Flores 
Villena for the 2010 Secretary's Award for International Women of 
Courage.  Through her work as a lawyer and public prosecutor, 
Marina has dedicated herself professionally and personally to 
positively impacting the lives of hundreds of Bolivian women and 
children victims of domestic violence and sexual exploitation.  She 
is aware of the nomination and is willing to accept the award if 
chosen. 
 
 
 
¶2.       Nominee:  Dr. Marina Flores Villena 
 
Job Title/Association:  Prosecutor, Santa Cruz District 
Prosecutor's Office 
 
Date of Birth:  March 23, 1960 
 
Country of Birth:  Bolivia 
 
Country of Citizenship:  Bolivia 
 
Address:  Barrio Guaracachi Calle 9, Santa Cruz 
 
Telephone:  (591) 766 81245 or (591) 726 84076 
 
Passport #:  1795067 
 
Language:  Spanish 
 
 
 
¶3.       Marina was born in a small village near Tarija, Bolivia. 
She grew up with her five brothers until the age of nine when her 
mother and father died, leaving the six kids alone.  The two eldest 
brothers tried to raise the younger children but their lack of 
financial resources forced them to send Marina to live with 
relatives.  Marina finished elementary school in a rural village 
where there was no possibility for a high school education.  She 
begged her aunt to send her to the city of Tarija to continue her 
education.  The aunt agreed but she couldn't pay for Marina's 
schooling.  As a result, at the age of 13, Marina moved to Tarija 
to work as a house maid by day and attend school in the evenings. 
She finished her high school education and moved to Santa Cruz, a 
larger city, in search of more opportunities.  There she worked as 
a house maid and entered a university where she received a partial 
scholarship.  She later found a job as an assistant in a dentist's 
office where she worked until she finished her studies in law at 
University Gabriel Rene Moreno.  She told Embassy La Paz she now 
remembers those difficult days with joy because she achieved what 
was most import in her life - an education - something that seemed 
almost impossible for women from rural areas in that era. 
 
 
 
¶4.       Marina began her legal career working in the Santa Cruz 
Prefect's Office for the Defense of Children, assisting women and 
children victims of domestic violence and sexual exploitation.  Due 
to the office's lack of resources, Marina had to work extra hard to 
rescue victims and to find them better living environments - often 
donating her spare time and personal resources to make a real 
difference in their lives.   Despite the challenges, she told 
Embassy La Paz she deeply appreciated being able to assist women 
and children in need.  A few years later she began working for 
Defense for Children International, an NGO where she performed 
similar work advocating for the needs of child abuse victims.  She 
later joined the Santa Cruz District Prosecutor's Office where she 
helped the Bolivian government implement a new criminal code 
procedure respecting human rights.  Her accomplishments led her to 
be elected as a prosecutor, where her record continues to stand out 
as one of the most successful in obtaining convictions in cases of 
rape and sexual exploitation.  One of Marina's most high-profile 
cases involved the conviction of a Bolivian couple that trafficked 
six girls to Santa Cruz for purposes of sexual exploitation.  Only 
four such convictions related to trafficking have ever been 
achieved in Bolivia. 
 
 
 
¶5.       In a country were the judicial branch is considered one of 
the most corrupt public institutions,  Marina is known by her 
colleagues and the police as the "incorruptible prosecutor."  A 
single mother with a limited salary as a public official, she is 
widely respected for her honesty and courage.  Marina works closely 
with Casa Jacinta, a Catholic shelter that provides refuge for 
women and children victims of domestic violence and others in need. 
 
 
The shelter's manager told Embassy La Paz, "Marina has never lost a 
case.  She has helped many victims put their offender in jail - in 
a country with a long history of impunity in these kinds of cases." 
Marina has also worked with the Bolivian police advising them on 
best practices for dealing with victims of sexual abuse, leading 
the effort to create a special unit for the police to assist 
victims of sexual abuse.  Marina has also taken a vocal role in 
fighting corruption within her own institution, occasionally 
receiving threats to her personal safety. 
 
 
 
¶6.       In researching this nomination, Embassy La Paz learned of 
numerous victims of abuse and exploitation that are today attending 
school or university because of Marina's professional and personal 
commitment.  One young woman, Noelia, a rape victim at the age of 
ten who is now 19, told us, "I received from Marina the love and 
affection that I never had from my family.  When I met Marina I 
felt I was no longer alone in life." 
 
 
 
¶7.       Embassy La Paz appreciates the Department's consideration 
of this nomination.  Officer responsible for the nomination:  E.J. 
Monster, Cultural Affairs Officer, MonsterEJ@state.gov, (591 2) 216 
8422, IVG 547-8863. 
Creamer