Faltus, Anna

Anna Faltus was born on April 9, 1919 in Mnichovice (Czech Republic). Throughout her life she was involved in political activities. During World War II, in London, she entered the British Auxiliary Territorial Service, worked for the Ministry of Social Affairs, and broadcasted news on the BBC. After WWII, Faltus joined the Czechoslovak Repatriation Mission in France and worked for Radio Free Europe and Voice of America. As a member of the Czechoslovak National Council of America in Washington, D.C., Faltus helped to translate Charter 77 documents into English. She also participated in the Czechoslovak National Council and the Society of Arts and Sciences. In 1999, she received a Presidential Commemorative Medal for her work on human rights. Faltus died on March 6, 2001.

Charter 77, a political document, was published in January 1977, in an attempt to illustrate the Czechoslovak government need to address human rights issues. The publication cause significant controversy and many of those who supported the document were imprisoned. One of the original signers of the charter, Vaclav Havel, later served as both the President of Czechoslovak and the first president of the Czech Republic.