UN Women Goodwill Ambassador
Hon. Mrs. Phoebe Asiyo
Hon. Mrs. Phoebe Asiyo was appointed UNIFEM (now UN Women) Goodwill Ambassador in 1998. She has been a strong advocate in highlighting the status of women in Africa in all walks of life and the various forms of oppression they are subjected to, from domestic violence, rape and female genital mutilation, to forced/early marriage, denial of educational opportunities and denial of property and economic rights.
A political pioneer and outspoken advocate in the fight for women’s rights in Kenya for more than two decades, Mrs. Asiyo was elected to Parliament in 1992 as one of six other women after involvement in the Kenya campaign for democracy. She has also acted as Chair of Kenya’s Women’s Political Caucus and has been a Commissioner in the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission.
“Women’s contribution to political life has been to provide the kind of leadership that empowers and enables the poor and grassroots communities to take control of their lives and their communities. Leaders in power are held accountable for their impact on an impoverished population, with new standards initiated by women. This type of leadership leads to long-term betterment in living conditions.”
—Hon. Mrs. Phoebe Asiyo
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