Betty Barkha
Betty Barkha, from the Fiji Islands has been involved in human rights advocacy since she was 18 years old. Prior to completing her Master of Arts in Sociology, she worked with various regional institutions on human rights, gender equality, peace & security, youth inclusion and climate change. She is currently serving on board with the FRIDA | Young Feminist Fund, Women Deliver Young Leaders Program and the Asia Pacific Alliance on Women Peace and Security. During a South-South learning exchange program with the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), she worked extensively on Beijing +20 and Development Justice. Her current work involves research under the Australian National University’s Pacific Research Colloquium to understand initiatives undertaken by grassroots and indigenous women in the Pacific using traditional knowledge to support climate resilience. Being able to equip women with knowledge on how to connect with leaders and institutions for immediate action are priorities given the release of a new development agenda in 2015. At 24, Betty has worked with a range of communities in the Asia-Pacific region with academic experience in the Middle East nations of Iran, Oman and Jordan. Betty’s passion drives her commitment to the advancement of women and she hopes that climate resilience initiatives will be successful in saving her island home and neighbors in the region.