Lea Ackermann

Lea Ackermann studied at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is women's rights, prostitution and sex tourism. Works named in the authority record are SOLWODI. Distinctions recorded are Bavarian Order of Merit, Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate, Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

• Name — Lea Ackermann • Born — 2 February 1937 • Birthplace — Völklingen, Germany • Died — 31 October 2023 • Place of death — Trier, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany • Education — LMU Munich • Organizations — * Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa • Solwodi • Awards — Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Ackermann was born in Völklingen on 2 February 1937, and grew up in Saarbrücken. After finishing school, she was a banking apprentice, and then worked for a bank, including for one year in Paris. In 1960, Ackermann decided to join the order of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa, also known as the White Sisters. She studied languages, theology, pedagogy, and psychology. In 1977, she earned a PhD in pedagogy at LMU Munich with a dissertation about education in Rwanda. She worked as a teacher in Rwanda and Kenya, where she came into contact with women who were victims of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, sex tourism, and forced prostitution. In 1985, together with Fritz Köster (theologian) SAC, she founded the Solwodi organisation in Mombasa, living a life of "solidarity with women in distress". The project offers counseling and education to help women get back on their feet. Ackermann later founded with Agnes Mailu a subproject to help girls, Solgidi (Solidarity with girls in distress). After her return to Germany in 1987, she founded Solwodi Deutschland, which developed into an organisation operating in 18 locations, with state associations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatine, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Berlin. They take care of women who came to Germany as refugees or immigrants, who have experienced sexual exploitation, forced prostitution, and forced marriage. The women receive social and psychological care, medical and legal support, and help in finding jobs and homes. She was heard as an expert in the Bundestag parliament in 2013, where she demanded the right of residence for all victims of forced prostitution from non-EU countries. She held lectures and directed Solwodi until the age of 85. Ackermann appeared without a nun's habit, wearing only a cross as a necklace. She was a resident of Hirzenach, where she lived in a former priest's house among vineyards. Due to health reasons, she moved to a senior citizens' home in Trier a few weeks before she died. Ackermann died in a hospital in Trier on 31 October 2023, at age 86.

Lea Ackermann is recorded as having received Bavarian Order of Merit, Order of Merit of Rhineland-Palatinate and Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.