No Peace Without Justice notes in great sadness the passing of Bogaletch Gebre, who devoted her life and career to raise awareness and combat all forms of discrimination and violent practices against Ethiopian women and to promote and defend their rights.

Gebre was born in Kembatta, a region in Ethiopia where FGM was endemic and women were largely uneducated. In 1997, along with her sister Fikirte Gebre, Gebre founded KMG Ethiopia, formerly called Kembatti Mentti Gezzima-Tope (Kembatta Women Standing Together). Under her tireless leadership, this association was instrumental in preventing female genital mutilation and bridal abductions, the practice of kidnapping and raping young women to force them into marriage.

Her vision and personal commitment was a beacon of inspiration for all those fighting for the promotion of women’s emancipation throughout Africa and worldwide. We had the honour to work with her on multiple occasions in the course of our advocacy for clear and effective legislation to unequivocally ban FGM as a human rights violation, in order to legitimize local advocacy and educational efforts, to strengthen those who seek to defy the social pressures of tradition and reject FGM, and to protect women and girls from this form of violence.

The entire human rights international community has lost a true friend and advocate. We mourn Gebre’s passing and urge all who knew her and whose lives she touched to carry on her legacy. NPWJ will certainly do so.

For more information, contact Nicola Giovannini, email: ngiovannini@npwj.org.