Born in Jerusalem "when it was still in Palestine", Dr. Ruchama Marton learned about human rights first hand as a young woman fulfilling her military duty in the Israeli army. In 1956, she watched as Israeli soldiers executed unarmed Egyptian soldiers who had surrendered. At 19, she was discharged for refusing to obey an order that she deemed sexist.
Psychiatrist, peace activist and feminist, she has written and lectured extensively on human rights, women's rights, the struggle for peace and democracy, mental health theory and practice connected to those issues. She edited and contributed to the book 'Torture: Human Rights, Medical Ethics and the Case of Israel', (Zed Books, London and New Jersey, 1955) and written screenplays for three films. Dr. Marton has spoken extensively during tours of Europe and North America, has been interviewed by major American and British media.

In 1998-99, Dr. Marton was chosen for the peace Fellowship at the Radcliffe Bunting Institute at Harvard and the Jeanne and Joseph Sullivan fellowship for Middle East activism.

Dr. Marton was the founder and the driving force within the Association of Physicians for Human Rights, 1988. The Association has worked since to document and mobilize public and professional opinion in Israel and abroad against Israel’s violations of human rights.
Currently Dr. Marton is the president of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, which has continued its human rights activities over the years.

Marton is the recipient of several peace and human rights awards, including the Emil Grunzweig Award for Human Rights, presented by the Association for Civil Rights, Israel, and the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights, 2002. She is one of 1000 women nominated for the 1000women Nobel Peace Prize 2005.