Press Release – A campaigner for gender equality and social inclusion from Nepal for women and Dalit community, a Belfast-based human rights champion, and a Chilean feminist policymaker and activist are among the new cohort of 20 Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity at LSE’s International Inequalities Institute.
Coming from 11 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, South and North America, these new Fellows will join a global network that will continue to grow over the next two decades to find creative solutions to one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Among the new Fellows joining the program:
- Kripa Basnyat is an experienced campaigner for gender equality and social inclusion in Nepal. Kripa is an advocate for the rights of the most marginalised women and Dalit community, the “lowest” social caste group in Nepal, and her struggle with persistent gender discrimination has strengthened her resolve to challenge the historically set gender and caste values and norms. Having worked at the frontlines of feminist human rights organisations, including Hamro Chahana Nepal (HCN), Programme on Women’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (PWESCR), and Himalayan Human Rights Monitors, she now works to ensure the effective implementation of gender equality and social inclusion policies and programmes in Nepal with The Asia Foundation.
- Nicola Brown is Director (Policy) of Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR); an organisation based in Belfast that helps marginalised members of the community build campaigns to realise their human rights. “Issues of voice, exclusion, and dignity have always resonated deeply with me” she explained. “I believe that we are all connected as human beings, and we act to protect others because of our common humanity.” Nicola has overseen the growth of PPR from a pilot project focused on mental health and housing into an internationally acclaimed human rights organisation.
- Anita Peña Saavedra, a feminist activist, academic, and advisor to the Chilean Vice Minister for Women on issues relating to abortion. Anita has been part of the Chilean feminist movement since 2004 and has worked on campaigns in Honduras, Mexico, and the UK. She currently teaches social protection system and labour for social worker students at Santo Toma’s University, complementing her academic work with her activism. “I applied to become an Atlantic Fellow because I would like to think carefully around these issues and to learn how I can help design a strategy,” Anita explained. “As a policy maker, I am well aware of the challenges, what I need is the time, space, and access to international expertise to help me design better policies to address those challenges”
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to bring these amazing people together from around the world,” Professor Beverley Skeggs, Director of the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity programme “They all bring such unique perspectives, so we are really excited to be able to discuss the fundamental causes of inequality and work with them to find effective and workable solutions to all forms of inequalities”.
Drawn from applicants around the world, the Fellows come together to engage with an innovative programme of leadership training, narrative and communications skills, and engagement with recognised social change leaders, all built upon a rigorous and interdisciplinary academic course at the London School of Economics and Political Science. With representatives from six continents, each Fellow brings their unique experiences in challenging inequality to collectively seek solutions to inequalities around the world.
This new cohort of Fellows joins a global community of Lifelong Atlantic Fellows, collaborating across disciplines and borders to understand and challenge root causes of inequality. Over the next two decades the team at LSE will also support the Fellows to help build a connected, collaborative, and supportive global network of social change leaders, developing inventive and bold solutions to inequality. The Fellows at LSE will join those from five other Atlantic Fellows programmes around the world and will receive further support, resources and opportunities to connect, learn from one another and collaborate through the Atlantic Institute.
Meet the first two cohorts of the Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity online, where you can also read their latest blogs and engage with the programme’s other activities and events.
