After living in seven countries, and completing both my undergraduate and graduate studies in extremely diverse environments, I have concluded that gender inequality is universal. Of course, in some places more than others. I believe that growing up with a single mother made me the person that I am today. Seeing how difficult it can be in my country as laws are sexist and oppressive towards women, made me want to make a difference. I will forever raise my voice for all women going through this oppression in our country and region. Women tend to be silent because they are scared to break the status quo or traditions.

My name is Yasmina Benslimane I am from Morocco but have always considered myself a world citizen as I have lived in seven countries so far.  Academically, I have obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication from Saint Louis University-Madrid Campus. Followed by a Master of Arts in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes from the United Nations Mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica and a Master of Arts in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration from the School of Advanced Study, University of London. I hold different certificates including in International Humanitarian Law-ICRC, International Refugee Law-UNHCR, Understanding Violence Against Women and Girls Women, Operationalizing the Right to Development in Implementing the SDGsOHCHR.  I have also completed the Leadership, Organizing, and Action Program at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Forced Migration School at the University of Oxford. Professionally, I have experience in civil society organizations, nongovernmental organizations and international organizations, including United Nations agencies. Some of my earliest experiences include research and report writing at the National Council of Human Rights in Morocco (CNDH), and UNESCO headquarters in Paris. I also possess extensive experience in the humanitarian field, for more than 5 years I have worked and volunteered with vulnerable groups such as migrants and refugees, particularly children and women. Through my humanitarian missions, I have been involved with different NGOs and UN agencies, where I have acquired experience in teaching, social media management, and fundraising. While I was pursuing my master’s degree, I was chosen to participate in the PTA Project coordinated by UNHCR and implemented by the University for Peace and also worked closely with the Directorate of Migration in Costa Rica. Adding to this, I was also selected to take part in a research project in collaboration with TUFTS University on the economic and financial journey of extra-regional migrants.

Upon my master’s graduation, I acquired experience related to media and communications at the UN Migration Agency (IOM) in its regional office for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean in San José. Following that, I was a humanitarian relief fundraiser for 18 months while also coaching, training, and developing young people in Miami, Florida. I built and managed a team of 12+ people while teaching them the basics of fundraising, public speaking, and face-to-face strategy to represent worldwide renowned non-profit organizations, including the Humane Society, Plan International, The Nature Conservancy, Doctors Without Borders, and Save The Children. I then worked closely with ESD Global as a Communication and Refugee Populations assistant, for Latin America and the Caribbean. I was as also part of the Youth Civic and Political Advisory Team for the UNDP Regional Bureau for the Arab States (RBAS). For a short period, I was hired as a consultant for Governing Health Futures 2030, a joint The Lancet & Financial Times Commission exploring the convergence of digital health, artificial intelligence (AI), and other frontier technologies with universal health coverage (UHC). I closely worked with the African Union, representing Morocco as an African Youth Charter (AYC) Hustler, to lead continental, regional, and national advocacy for the ratification and implementation of the Charter as well as the institution of effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms. In 2021, I joined the UNDP Crisis Bureau in their Human Mobility team, helping governments develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships, and institutional capabilities related to migration, displacement, and development. After this chapter, I concluded the Young Scholar Program in Communications at the Migration Policy Institute and then worked with Samuel Hall, a social enterprise doing research and developing programs in migration and displacement contexts. Alongside, I was honored to be recognized as a Peace and Security scholar for the OSCE and UNODA annual scholarship. Additionally, I proudly graduated from the pioneering cohort of Young Women Peace-Builders, acknowledged by the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States region.

In another notable recognition, I was part of the 2020 Young Leader program by Women Deliver, an acknowledgement of my commitment to standing up for gender equality. On the side, I am the Gender Advisor for the Migration Youth and Children Platform, I co-lead a working group on ending gender norms in education with Transform Education hosted by UNGEI, consult for feminist organizations, sit on the board of several organizations, co-lead Politics4Her, while also coaching young feminists from all over the world. My work has been recognized by Forbes in the 30 Under 30 list, by the BBC as one of the most inspiring and influential women of 2023 and by the United Nations as one of the Top 100 Under 40 Most Influential People of African Descent. Additionally, my contributions have been acknowledged with the Emerging Leader Award from Saint Louis University in Madrid, by being named a MADRE Champion. Through my diverse experiences and commitment to making a difference, I am confident in my ability to continue making an inspiring and impactful contribution to the world.