SheDecides appoints Naisola Likimani as new Support Unit Lead

Passionate Kenyan advocate Naisola will now build a dynamic new team – based in the UK and in four regions – to support the global SheDecides movement, as it enters its third full year. SheDecides now reaches 183 countries, with over 120,000 individuals and organisations signed up as Friends. Naisola will take up her new role just before Global SheDecides Day on 2 March 2019; exactly two years since the Brussels pledging conference which gave birth to the movement. She will build on the work of the support teams that set up the movement, from 23 January 2017, when it was sparked by Trump’s dramatic expansion and reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule – a US policy designed to limit access to safe abortion care.

With over 13 years’ experience in women’s and girls’ rights, gender equality, and bodily autonomy, Naisola has worked in civil society, government and in diverse coalitions at different levels, strengthening social movements that promote equality, inclusion and accountability.

She is a dynamic feminist from Kenya and an international policy and development expert. Her background includes senior leadership and management of complex programmes at pan-African and international organisations including the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) and the Ipas Africa Alliance for Women’s Reproductive Health and Rights. In her most recent role, Naisola oversaw strategic partnerships with civil society at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya – and organised a powerful event there at the same time as the Brussels pledging conference that birthed the movement.

SheDecides launched at the start of 2017 in reaction to the Global Gag Rule, and has swiftly become a broad, inclusive global movement to support the fundamental rights of girls and women to decide freely and for themselves about their sexual lives, including whether, when, with whom and how many children they have.

It has rapidly evolved from two words, to a one-day conference into a global, political movement driving change, fuelled by community action, and with young people at its heart, guided by the vision articulated in the SheDecides Manifesto: A new normal where girls and women decide about their bodies, their lives, their futures. Without question.

Since SheDecides launched, the movement has mobilised more than 120,000 citizens and organisations in 183 countries, with local movements launching around the world. Over 40 Champions – one third of them government Ministers – serve as Ambassadors for the movement. All Friends and Champions have pledged to take action to support the SheDecides movement by Standing Up and Speaking Out; Changing the Rules and Unlocking Resources.

Naisola Likimani, said: “I am thrilled to be taking on the Lead role the SheDecides Support Unit. I believe that now, more than ever, we need bold movements and as many voices pressing for a world where she decides. Every time. Without question. I look forward to the exciting journey ahead.”

SheDecides Chairperson, Tikhala Itaye, said: “SheDecides is in such an exciting phase of growth. We are seeing local SheDecides movements taking off all over the world, and the number of governments asking to sign up and become Champions is growing rapidly. All over the world, progressive governments, young leaders, and bold community actors from many sectors are coming together under the banner of SheDecides. I am delighted to welcome Naisola to lead the support team as we move into a new, exciting stage of development. She impressed the panel with her passionate activism, and deep experience, supporting a wide-range of feminist movements, as well as working with and for governments and community actors. She brings vibrant energy to kick start this new phase of the global movement and we are all excited to work with her.

 “On behalf of the Champions I welcome her to this role – and a huge shout out to Rebekka van Roemburg and Robin Gorna, and all of the team members who have worked with them through this incredible scale up and start up phase. We are thrilled that they will continue to support the movement through this second global SheDecides Day. After that we are all excited to have Naisola’s new leadership to build on their incredible work and take us forward to a New Normal, where SheDecides, Without Question”.