ADVOCACY • COMMUNICATION • PEACEBUILDING
Dignity, Voice, and peacebuilding
A DEFINING ADVOCACY
Leina’s advocacy against breast ironing is rooted in personal experience. After witnessing the practice within her own family and resisting it herself, she became determined to challenge a practice that places the dignity, safety and bodily integrity of girls at risk.
Through her journalism, her public awareness, community conversations and advocacy, she has worked to bring this often-hidden issue into wider public discussion while encouraging approaches that protect girls without humiliating families or communities.
Where Advocacy Meets Action
AREAS OF WORK
Journalism & Storytelling
Women’s Rights & Advocacy
Peacebuilding & Dialogue
Leina’s work crosses disciplines, connecting communication, advocacy and peacebuilding to address issues affecting women, families and communities.
Using journalism and storytelling to bring overlooked experiences into public conversation and amplify the voices of women and communities.
Advancing the dignity, safety and rights of women and also girls through advocacy, public engagement and conversations centered around harmful practices and inequality.
Bringing a peacebuilding perspective to community engagement, leadership and conversations around conflict, participation and social change.
ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Women Relief Services
Founded by Leina and formerly known as Gender Danger, Women Relief Services grew from a commitment to advance the dignity of women and girls and address issues affecting their health, education and security.
It represents an important part of Leina’s journey from raising awareness to building platforms for community engagement, advocacy and practical action.
DIGNITY | ADVOCACY | COMMUNITY
From Community Conversations to Global Platforms
GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
2012
Women Have Wings Courage Award
Leina’s advocacy and professional journey have taken her from grassroots engagement in Cameroon to international platforms where women’s rights, leadership, peacebuilding and social change are discussed with global audiences.
2013
Aspen New Voices Fellowship
2015
UN Commission on the Status of Women — Panelist
2019
Women Deliver, Vancouver — Speaker
2023
Women Deliver, Kigali — Training/Engagement
2025
World Pulse — From Vision to Action
Her work and voice have also appeared through BBC World Service, Voice of America, UN Women and the Nobel Women’s Initiative.
PEACEBUILDING & DIALOGUE
Building Peace Through Dialogue and Participation
Leina’s work is also informed by her academic and professional background in peacebuilding and conflict mediation. She holds a Master of Arts in Peace, Governance and Development from the United Nations University for Peace and has received professional training in international conflict mediation from the Clingendael Institute in the Netherlands.
This perspective strengthens her approach to community dialogue, women’s participation, leadership and social change.
PEACEBUILDING • MEDIATION • COMMUNITY DIALOGUE • WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION
Experience That Can Serve Your Audience, Organization or Initiative
WORK WITH LEINA
Speaking
Keynotes, panels and conversations around women's rights, harmful practices, leadership, peacebuilding, advocacy and social change.
Workshops & Facilitation
Interactive sessions around advocacy storytelling, women's leadership, community dialogue and engagement.
Advocacy & Communications Consulting
Support with campaign messaging, advocacy narratives, stakeholder engagement and community-informed communication.
Media & Commentary
Interviews and informed conversations connected to her areas of advocacy and professional experience.