María Julia Castillo Rodas (4 July 1935 – 14 August 2016) was a Salvadoran surgeon and politician, who served as the first female president of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador between 1983 and 1985. She also served as vice president of the Constitutional Assembly of 1982 and vice minister of health.
María Julia Castillo Rodas | |
|---|---|
| 165th President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador | |
| In office 20 December 1983 – 1 May 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Roberto D'Aubuisson |
| Succeeded by | Guillermo Antonio Guevara |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 July 1935 |
| Died | 14 August 2016 (aged 81) San Salvador, El Salvador |
| Party | National Conciliation Party |
| University of El Salvador | |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
editCastillo was born on 4 July 1935.[1][2][3][4] She graduated in Medicine from the University of El Salvador and specialised in Neurosurgery, completing her residency in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Surgery at Rosales Hospital.[3][1][5][4]
She was a resident in neurosurgery at the Salvadoran Social Security Institute.[3][4]
Career
editShe was a member of the Higher Council of Public Health, becoming its Director, and vice minister of health in the government of President Carlos Humberto Romero.[3][1][4][6]
Castillo got elected member of the 1982 Constitutional Assembly in the 1982 election for the National Conciliation Party, and became its vice president, and after it was concluded in 1983, Castillo became the first woman to serve as president of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador.[3][1] She co-signed the new Constitution and left the office in 1985.[7][5]
On 24 March 2010, the Legislative Assembly declared her an Honourable Daughter of El Salvador for "her distinguished and outstanding professional and political career, which undoubtedly brings honour to Salvadoran women".[3][1]
Although she had retired from public life, she remained an adviser to the National Conciliation Party's legislative group until her death.[1][4] She was nicknamed the "Salvadorans' Iron Lady".[4]
Death
editCastillo died on 14 August 2016 at the age of 81 after a long illness in a private hospital in San Salvador.[1][5]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Legisladores reconocen legado de fallecida ex presidenta del congreso" [Lawmakers pay tribute to the legacy of the late former Speaker of Parliament]. Diario Co Latino (in Spanish). 16 August 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "Fallece María Julia Castillo, expresidenta de la Asamblea Legislativa" [María Julia Castillo, former president of the Legislative Assembly, has died]. diario1.com (in Spanish). 14 August 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "DECRETO Nº 308 LA ASAMBLEA LEGISLATIVA DE LA REPÚBLICA DE EL SALVADOR" [DECREE No. 308 THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR] (PDF). Legislative Assembly of El Salvador. 14 April 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guevara, Ricardo (14 August 2016). "Muere María Julia Castillo: La Dama de Hierro de los salvadoreños" [María Julia Castillo dies: The Salvadorans’ ‘Iron Lady’]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Fallece María Julia Castillo, primera presidenta de la Asamblea Legislativa" [María Julia Castillo, the first female president of the Legislative Assembly, has died]. El Salvador Times (in Spanish). 16 August 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ Choto, Daniel (15 August 2016). "Dra. Castillo abrió camino para mujeres en la política" [Dr. Castillo paved the way for women in politics]. Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2026.
- ↑ "CONSTITUCION DE LA REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR (1983)" [CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR (1983)] (PDF). Organization of American States (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2026.