Jeanne Beeckman

Jeanne Augusta Félicienne Beeckman (alias Jeanne-Émile, 8 December 1891 in Buenos Aires, Argentina 20 April 1963 in Lausanne, Switzerland) was a Belgian medical doctor, socialist, feminist, and anti-fascist.

Early life Beeckman was born in December 1891, to Elise Beeckman, a feminist journalist, and Théophile Beeckman, a jurist. She spent the first four years of her life in Argentina, before her family returned to Belgium, where her parents divorced.

Education and medical career She studied medicine in Brussels from 1908 to 1914, specialising in hygiene in 1921. She worked at Saint-Pierre Hospital and then Saint-Jean Hospital until 1923, including a period during World War I where she treated injured soldiers.

As an activist During her marriage with Émile Vandervelde, they undertook a number of travels to study carceral systems.

Awards Beeckman was awarded decorations by the governments of Belgium, Poland, and Italy. Civic Cross 1st class Knight of the Order of Leopold II (1958) Knight of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) (1948) Medal of the Armed Resistance (1956) Knight of the Order of Polonia Restituta Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic