Dr Joan Nyanyuki

Dr Joan Nyanyuki began her career as a medical doctor, working with survivors of torture and sexual violence before transitioning into human rights and social justice work. An advocate for women, children and survivors of violence, she has a wealth of progressive experience in human rights research and multi-tiered advocacy, partnership and community engagement, strategic and organizational leadership gained through her past roles. Dr Nyanyuki was previously Amnesty International’s Regional Director in East Africa and The Great Lakes Region. Earlier in her career she supported Physician for Human Rights (US) program on sexual violence, was Executive Director of Coalition on Violence against Women and Independent Medico-Legal Unit, both national non-profits in Kenya. 

Dr Nyanyuki is currently the Executive Director of African Child Policy Forum, a Pan-African center for policy research, advocacy and influencing on child rights in Africa child rights. Alongside this she serves as a trustee for Frontline Aids, a UK based charity, as the Chairperson of African Partnership to End Violence and Co-Chair of Executive Committee of Global Partnership to End Violence against Children.

She began her career as a medical doctor. Her work with survivors of torture and sexual violence is what drew her into human rights, and social justice and development work.