Idayat Hassan
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Nigeria
- Expertise: Countering Violent Extremism, Democracy, Political Participation, and Governance, Transitional Justice
- Position: Director
- Organization: Centre for Democracy and Development
Idayat Hassan is Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), an Abuja-based policy advocacy and research organization with a focus on deepening democracy and development in West Africa. Ms. Hassan was previously Principal Program Officer and team leader for democratic governance at the organization. Prior to joining the CCD, Ms. Hassan was a […]
Read full bio »Sureya Roble-Hersi
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Kenya
- Expertise: Countering Violent Extremism, Democracy, Political Participation, and Governance, Gender Perspective, Peacebuilding, Women's Rights
- Position: National Vice Chairperson
- Organization: Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization
Sureya Roble-Hersi is a women’s rights activist and national vice chairperson of the Mombasa-based Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), a nonprofit voluntary women’s organization established to improve the quality of life of women and youth living in rural Kenyan communities. The organization’s projects address peacebuilding, conflict management, and gender and governance. Since 2013, the organization’s […]
Read full bio »Ilwad Elman
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Somalia
- Expertise: Countering Violent Extremism, Human Rights, Peacebuilding
- Position: Director of Programs and Development
- Organization: Elman Peace and Human Rights Center
Ilwad Elman is a Somali-Canadian social activist and the Director of Programs and Development at the Elman Peace and Human Rights Center in Somalia. In 2014, she was appointed Ambassador to Somalia for Youth to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, an organization founded by the youth delegates to the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence […]
Read full bio »Rizwana Sadiq
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Pakistan
- Position: Senior Patrol Officer
- Organization: Driving Licensing Authority Head Office
Rizwana Sadiq is a Senior Patrol Officer currently based at the Driving Licensing Authority Head Office in Islamabad, where she helps train individuals, particularly women, to learn and adhere to international standard driving skills. Inspired by her mother’s strength and values, Ms. Sadiq started her career as a Patrol Officer for the Pakistan Motorway Police. […]
Read full bio »Asila Wardak Jamal
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Afghanistan
- Expertise: Civil Society, Human Rights, Women's Rights
- Position: Member
- Organization: Organization of the Islamic Cooperation Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission
Asila Wardak Jamal, a prominent women’s rights and civil society activist, is the first Afghan woman elected as a member on the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation’s Independent Human Rights Commission. Previously Ms. Wardak served as Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations. She was also appointed as Director General […]
Read full bio »Amna Popovac
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Expertise: Media
- Position: Founder and owner
- Organization: Studio 88
Amna Popovac has been the owner of radio station Studio 88 since 1998, which she launched to contribute to the normalization of life in Mostar, Herzegovina, and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). In April 2011, she produced “Santiceva 88” with Federal Television, a documentary discussing the senseless war, and especially highlighting the places where Studio 88 […]
Read full bio »Zana Marjanovic
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Position: Member of the House of Representatives
- Organization: Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zana Marjanovic has been a member of the House of Representatives, the upper house of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina since September 2014. Given the problems artists in Bosnia and Herzegovina face, her top priorities are legislative and financial reforms, which will help regulate employment and employment status of artists and […]
Read full bio »Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Nigeria
- Expertise: Gender Perspective, Women's Rights
- Position: Director of Women and Gender Affairs
- Organization: Nigerian Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development
Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia is the Director of Women and Gender Affairs at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. She leads the implementation of Nigeria’s National Action Plan for United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. Prior to joining the ministry, Ms. Eghobamien-Mshelia was Head of Gender for the Commonwealth Secretariat, where her work […]
Read full bio »Paleki Matthew Obur Ayang
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: South Sudan
- Expertise: Human Rights, Media, Peacebuilding, Women's Rights
- Position: Executive Director
- Organization: South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network (SSWEN)
Paleki Matthew Obur Ayang is a lawyer and passionate activist. Currently, Ms. Ayang is the Executive Director of South Sudan Women’s Empowerment Network (SSWEN), a national indigenous network promoting gender equality and women’s rights, and empowering South Sudanese women to build peaceful societies in their country. As a prominent member of the South Sudan Law […]
Read full bio »Olga Bogomolets
- Country/Conflict-Affected Area: Ukraine
- Position: Member
- Organization: Ukrainian Parliament
“Civil society activists have to take on responsibilities,” says Olga Bogomolets, a respected doctor, professor, and, since 2014, political leader. “It’s hard, but this is a chance and a choice to change your country.” So she ran for president in 2014 after her highly visible role as medical coordinator for protestors (including 100 who were […]
Read full bio »
