Yasmina Benslimane Official Biography and Images

My name is Yasmina Benslimane. I am a feminist human rights advocate, policy advisor, and communicator dedicated to advancing gender equality, youth leadership, and the rights of migrants and displaced communities. While I am originally from Morocco, I have always considered myself a world citizen, I have lived in seven countries, each of which has shaped my global perspective and deepened my commitment to inclusive change.

I have pursued a multidisciplinary academic path, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communication from Saint Louis University–Madrid, a Master’s in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes from the United Nations-mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica, and a second Master’s in Refugee Protection and Forced Migration from the University of London. I have also completed advanced training programs in international humanitarian and refugee law, women’s rights, and sustainable development through institutions such as ICRC, UNHCR, OHCHR, Harvard Kennedy School, and the University of Oxford.

Professionally, I have worked with civil society organizations, international NGOs, and United Nations agencies, contributing to projects focused on migration, forced displacement, gender-based violence, youth civic engagement, and strategic communications. I have supported policy and programmatic work at the National Council for Human Rights in Morocco, UNESCO headquarters in Paris, IOM’s regional office in Central America, and UNDP’s Crisis Bureau Human Mobility team, among others. I have also led and trained fundraising teams in the U.S., collaborated on research with Tufts University and the Migration Policy Institute, and worked on advocacy initiatives at the African Union and UNDP’s Regional Bureau for the Arab States.

In addition to my consulting and policy work, I have co-founded Politics4Her, a platform amplifying young feminist voices in political spaces, and SWANA Climate Sirens, a decolonial climate justice collective rooted in intersectional feminism. I have served as a Gender Advisor for the Migration Youth and Children Platform, co-led work with Transform Education hosted by UNGEI, and coached emerging feminist leaders around the world.

My work has been recognized by Forbes 30 Under 30, the BBC 100 Women list, the United Nations (MIPAD 100), Women Deliver, OSCE, UNODA, and Saint Louis University, which awarded me the Emerging Leader Award. These honors reflect a broader mission I have embraced: to use my voice and platform to spotlight the struggles and resilience of women and youth across borders—and to help build structures that center their leadership, rights, and visions for justice.