Ms Grace Wezi Jere | Malawi

Bachelor of Laws Degree from Tumaini University-Makumira University College, Tanzania

Previous experience

Grace Jere is a human rights lawyer with over 10 years’ experience in the human rights field, with a focus on gender and the rights of vulnerable groups. She is admitted to practice law in Malawi. She currently works at the Human Rights Commission in Malawi as a Principal Gender and Women's Rights Officer (Legal). My professional work in promoting and protecting human rights has also been shaped through internships and roles at the Lawyers Environmental Action Team in Tanzania, and in Malawi at the Legal Aid Bureau and the Centre for Legal Assistance.

Grace is a firm believer in equality and non-discrimination in all spheres of society. As such, she has been instrumental in raising awareness on legal and human rights, investigating human rights violations against individuals and those of public interest, drafting shadow reports to international and African human rights mechanisms, reviewing laws, policies including institutional policies such as safeguarding policies, judicial and administrative decisions in line with international human rights standards, and facilitating access to justice where human rights violations have occurred.

Being a legal practitioner, Grace is a member of the Malawi Law Society. She is also a member of the Women Lawyers Association where she served as President of the Northern Region Chapter (2020-2022). These and other platforms provide Grace further opportunity to promote equality, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Academic fields of interest:

International and regional human rights mechanisms, social justice, gender equality, women and children’s rights.

Position prior to the programme

Principal Gender and Women’s Rights Officer (Legal)