Bianca Jagger (UK / Nicaragua)

➡️ BIANCA JAGGER – Founder of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation

Bianca is a Nicaraguan-born social justice, human rights, and environmental advocate who has dedicated more than four decades to the causes closest to her heart.

She gained international prominence after her marriage to musician Mick Jagger and a successful career in acting. In early 1979, during a visit to her home country with an International Red Cross delegation, she witnessed first-hand the brutality and oppression of the Somoza regime.

This trip became the turning point at which Bianca committed herself to helping vulnerable sectors of society, such as Indigenous peoples, women and children, and victims of violence, discrimination, oppression, and ethnic cleansing.

Heavily influenced by Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence, she established the London-based charity, the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation (BJHRF), in 2006. This organisation is committed to ending violence against women, upholding the rights of indigenous peoples, protecting the environment, and combating climate change.

"When I began my humanitarian work, I understood that in order to gain credibility, I needed patience, commitment and unwavering perseverance. I needed to ignore the sceptics." - Bianca Jagger

Jump straight to our resources on ➡️ Bianca Jagger

Explore our comprehensive guides on -

• Must-Watch Videos & Must-Read Articles by Bianca

• Nicaragua – Political Situation & Human Rights

• Indigenous Peoples

• Peace & Nonviolence

• Our Guide to Human Rights & Social Justice

• The Death Penalty

• Women's, Girls' & Children's Rights

• International Human Rights Law & The ICC

• The Climate Crisis

• Rainforests, Nature, Biodiversity & Environment

In 2004, Bianca was awarded the prestigious Right Livelihood Award "for her dedicated commitment and campaigning for human rights, social justice and environmental protection."

Over the years, she has been the recipient of many other prizes, including the United Nations Earth Day International Award, the Amnesty International USA Media Spotlight Award, the World Citizenship Award, the World Achievement Award, and the Global Exchange Human Rights Award.

As well as her work as the head of the BJHRF, Bianca is also a Council of Europe goodwill ambassador, a member of the Executive Director's Leadership Council of Amnesty International USA, a member of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, and a member of the Women and Girls Lead Leadership Council.

From 2007 to 2009, she was chair of the World Future Council, a German non-profit foundation founded by Jakob von Uexküll. Uexküll also founded the inspiring Right Livelihood Award.

Activism Over The Years

"The British Red Cross asked me to help them spearhead a fundraising campaign for the victims of the war in Nicaragua. It was a turning point in my life. It began my commitment to justice and human rights issues." - Bianca Jagger

With so many issues close to her heart, we highlight some of the inspiring work that Bianca has been a part of over the years.

• In 1981, Jagger was part of a US congressional delegation at a UN refugee camp in Honduras. Refugees were being marched by a death squad, which the delegation trailed and documented, resulting in the release of the captives.

• In the 1980s, she loudly opposed US government intervention in Nicaragua after the Sandinista revolution.

• She advocates against the death penalty, labelling it 'state-sanctioned murder'.

• She is a fierce defender of women's and indigenous rights in Latin America. She has worked hard to protect the Yanomami tribe in Brazil against the invasion of gold miners.

• In the 1990's, she extensively documented atrocities in the Bosnian war, including mass rapes and ethnic cleansing.

• Bianca was a member of the Twentieth Century Task Force to Apprehend War Criminals. This group specialised in bringing war criminals from the Bosnian war to justice.

• She has collaborated with numerous humanitarian organisations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

• In 2002, she travelled to Afghanistan with a delegation organised by Global Exchange to support Afghan women's projects.

• In 2007, alongside former British MP Sarah Teather, Bianca campaigned to close Guantanamo Bay.

• In the same year, she hosted the German leg of Live Earth in Hamburg, an event developed to increase environmental awareness.

• In 2009, she addressed 12,000 demonstrators in Trafalgar Square protesting against an Israeli offensive in Gaza.

• During this same year, she worked as an ambassador for the environmental organisation 350.org.

• Bianca Jagger is a prominent IUCN Ambassador for the Bonn Challenge. This is a global initiative aiming to restore 350 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

• In 2012, Bianca participated in the "Europe for Tibet Solidarity Rally," which demanded EU intervention to help secure Tibet's autonomy.

• In 2015, she endorsed the Green Party's Caroline Lucas in the UK general election.

Bianca Jagger on the Middle East

Bianca has always been a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights. She has marched for freedom of speech and against the proscription of Palestine Action.

"As a human rights defender, a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who has denounced genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing throughout the world, I cannot remain silent, witnessing the genocide and the abhorrent starvation of the Palestinian people." - Bianca Jagger

In 2005, she sought to promote dialogue between Iran and the United States. She criticised both US foreign policy and the dire human rights situation in Iran. She was also a vocal supporter of the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement advocating for women's rights in Iran.

Bianca has maintained consistent opposition to military interventions in the Middle East and long supported human rights for Iranian citizens.

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Through her foundation and individual campaigns, Bianca is an inspiring role model for women and rights advocates. She demonstrates how those with influence can use it to fight for the common good. She uses her voice to help those who have been left voiceless.

In this era of polycrisis, we are experiencing the highest number of conflicts since World War II, the devastating impact of climate inaction, corruption, autocracy, polarisation, and rights violations Bianca Jagger stands up for a better world.

"There is so much each one of us can do to make a difference." – Biance Jagger

Author: Rachael Mellor, 18.03.26 licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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