Bience gawanas biography of rory

Prior to that, she worked in publishing in the UK, taught politics at universities in Ghana and Australia, and was an Australian public servant. Her role in the Country Coordinating Mechanism has given her a close understanding of Global Fund strategies and processes, the working of the Secretariat, and the practical implementation of grants at country level.

Bience Gawanas has been invited to serve on several public and private boards, taskforces, and commissions, including as a Member of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board. Throughout her career, Bience Gawanas has championed the rights of marginalized populations and has been a strong advocate for social justice and global public health, including the rights of women and children.

Amongst other honors, she has been named amongst the most influential Africans by the New African Publication and received the IPPF award for most outstanding contribution on sexual and reproductive health and rights. I am looking for Impact Stories 23 January News Releases 21 January Honoured: Bience Gawanas came to Warwick as a refugee before a career in law.

The Namibian lawyer, diplomat and social justice advocate Bience Gawanas has been appointed as the new Chancellor of The University of Warwick. In her role, Bience will serve as the ceremonial head of the University, presiding over major events, including graduation ceremonies, and acting as an ambassador for Warwick's principles of academic excellence, diversity, and social impact.

We are thrilled to welcome her to the Warwick community. Bience fought against the South African apartheid-era Government and was forced into exile along with many other Namibians. She came to Warwick as a refugee to undertake her legal studies as part of a scholarship scheme. She went into exile and lived in ZambiaAngola and Cuba. In the International Labour Organization sponsored her as an intern at their headquarters and subsequently on a labour law study.

She graduated in and qualified as a barrister at Lincoln's InnLondon in Namibia was occupied illegally by South Africa until Gawanas's interest in law was sparked after her beloved elder brother Jeka was picked up by whites and beaten to death while hitch-hiking, and police decided it was a "road accident". Throughout her exile, Gawanas continued to campaign for Namibia's freedom from South African rule.

Over an extended period the movement detained many thousands of Namibians as part of a "spy scare". These allegations were never proved despite months of solitary confinement and torture.

Bience gawanas biography of rory

Gawanas later became one of the first Namibians to return alive from the Lubango dungeonsSouthern Angola, insome months before many other surviving detainees were released. By Julyshe and her daughter were repatriated by the United Nations and were back on Namibian soil. Her first job back in Namibia from exile was with advocate Anton Lubowskiwhich ended when apartheid agents murdered Lubowski on his front doorstep in an unsuccessful attempt to destabilize the UN-supervised elections.

She then worked as with the public-interest Legal Assistance Centre until Her work there included extensive rebalancing of the Namibian civil service. President Sam Nujoma appointed her Ombudsman, on recommendation of the Judicial Services Commission, in and she served there, investigating and resolving complaints of maladministration at all levels, until In that capacity, she sought to increase the profile of social development issues on the continental agenda.

She was elected for two terms, in andand after completing her second term in Octobershe returned to Namibia where she became Special Advisor to the Minister of Health and Social Services. She served at the level of Under-Secretary-General. Gawanas is the aunt of politician Sade Gawanas. The University of the Western Cape awarded her a Doctor legum honoris causa at their September graduation ceremony.