Remembering Mary Diaz

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.

Make a memorial contribution to the Mary Diaz Fund for Refugee Girls.

Donations may also be sent to:

The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, 122 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10168-1289.

• Read other tributes to Mary Diaz.
• Remembering Mary: A book of remembrances
• View a video tribute to Mary Diaz (Warning: This file is very large and you need video software in order to view it.)
• UNHCR Mourns the Loss of Refugee Advocate, Mary Diaz.
• The International Rescue Committee Mourns a "tireless advocate for refugee women and children."
• The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict Mourns the Loss of Mary Diaz.
• The Inter-agency Network for Education in Emergencies tribute to Mary Diaz.
• Senators Kennedy and Carper pay tribute to Mary.
• New York Times obituary.
• Boston Globe obituary.
• Washington Post obituary.
• Philadelphia Inquirer obituary.
• Los Angeles Times obituary.
• Read an article about Mary from the Brown Alumni Magazine.
• Read Brown Alumni Magazine Obituary

© 2008 Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children • 122 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10168
Tel. (212) 551-3115/3000 • info@womenscommission.org

The Women's Commission was established in 1989 to address the particular needs of refugee and displaced women and children. The Women's Commission is affiliated with and is legally part of the International Rescue Committee, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. It does not receive direct financial support from the IRC.