Diana Salazar Méndez: The 100 Most Influential People of 2024

Overview

• Diana Salazar Méndez, at 42, is the youngest and the first Black woman to serve as Ecuador's top law-enforcement official.
• Recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential People by TIME in 2024.

Professional Achievements

• Known for her challenging role in Ecuador, considered one of the hardest and most dangerous jobs in the western hemisphere.
• Successfully secured convictions against significant figures, including a top football executive and a former President.
• Currently leading efforts to combat violent and well-connected drug traffickers in Ecuador.

Challenges and Risks

• Faces embedded networks of political, judicial, police, and economic players allied with drug traffickers.
• She and her family have been subjected to credible threats from gangs known for violence against those who oppose them legally.

Public Perception

• In a nation with historically low trust in institutions, Salazar has gained the respect and support of the populace who desire peace and safety.
• Famous Quote: "It's time to tell all of Ecuador that justice will not kneel down."

Additional Information

• Article written by Samantha Power, Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Related Personalities on the 2024 TIME100 List

• America Ferrera
• Yulia Navalnaya
• Dev Patel
• Mark Cuban
• E. Jean Carroll

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