Keynote Speakers

Dr.hc. Christine Brendel

Dr.hc. Christine Brendel manages the GIZ program Preventing Violence against Women in Ecuador. She holds a Doctor Honoris Causa for her investigative work about the costs of violence against women and a master’s degree for Social Pedagogy and has over 20 years of professional experience in development cooperation.

Currently, Dr. hc. Brendel works in counselling and representation of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) in the international context and as a political advisor. Her expertise is focused in the field of women´s rights and gender equality, as well as the design and implementation of multi-stakeholder processes. As an internationally recognized expert, she has worked in Latin America, Africa, South Asia and the US.

She has published numerous publications and education materials.

Dr.hc. Christine Brendel

Prof. Rachel Jewkes

Professor Rachel Jewkes is the Executive Scientist for Research Strategy in the Office of the President of the South African Medical Research Council, and former director of the SAMRC’s Gender and Health Research Unit. She is an NRF A1 rated scientist.

She is the Consortium Director of the What Works to Prevent Violence? Global Programme, leading research on prevention of violence against women in 13 countries, Secretary of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative, and a member of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel on Injury and Violence Prevention and Control.

Prof Jewkes has worked for over three decades in research on violence against women, to build understanding of this as a major obstacle to public health and development, and to use the research for stronger global policy, prevention interventions and services for survivors.

She has written over 350 peer-reviewed journal articles, reports, training manuals and book chapters.

Prof. Rachel Jewkes
SADC Ford Foundation SAMRC What Works UK Aid Canada EU