Women living with HIV continue to face discrimination, violence and barriers to exercising their fundamental rights. Her Rights Initiative exists to change that.
Her Rights Initiative (HRI) is a feminist, women-led social impact organisation established in 2009 to advance and protect the human rights of women living with HIV in South Africa. HRI works to create safe spaces, promote social justice, and advocate for the rights, dignity, health, and well-being of women in all their diversity.
We work alongside women living with HIV to challenge injustice, influence laws and policies, strengthen leadership and build a future where women are recognised not as beneficiaries, but as leaders and rights holders.
HRI places women living with HIV at the centre of its work. We believe that women should lead the conversations, shape the analysis, and drive the solutions that affect their lives. Our work is informed by lived experiences and grounded in feminist principles, human rights, and social justice.
HRI is guided by feminists, researchers and lawyers with decades in HIV, gender, and women's rights.
Researcher and public policy analyst with over 20 years in HIV and women's rights. Holds a PhD in Gender Studies from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and pioneered research on the forced sterilisation of women living with HIV.
Strategic leader with 20 years across gender equality, sustainable development, human rights and social justice. A former Provincial Head of the Commission for Gender Equality, she has led the localisation of the SDGs in South Africa and represented at forums including the UN CSW and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.
Human rights and feminist lawyer with extensive experience in constitutional rights, gender equality and social justice. She previously served at the Women's Legal Centre, playing a key role in strategic litigation, legal advocacy and law reform for women and marginalised communities.
