Tsitsi Matekaire

Tsitsi Matekaire is the Director, Regions at Equality Now. In this role with Equality Now, Tsitsi provides leadership to a global team campaigning to end sex trafficking and sexual exploitation across the world.

With over sixteen years of experience, Tsitsi is a recognized legal expert on women’s rights, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, access to justice, women’s political participation, violence against women and girls . She is co-author, along with Samantha Ferrell-Schweppenstedde and Equality Now’s Jacqui Hunt, of “How Lifelong Discrimination and Legal Inequality Facilitate Sex Trafficking in Women and Girls,” featured in the Palgrave International Handbook on Human Trafficking (2019). Her writing and commentary have also featured in The London Economic, Eco Business, and Inter Press Service, among others.

Tsitsi began her career as a Legal Officer providing legal aid services to women affected by domestic violence.  Prior to joining Equality Now in 2016, Tsitsi served as Program Manager at Womankind Worldwide providing program and advocacy support to women’s rights organizations in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, and was Director of the Women in Politics Support Unit and Legal Officer at Women’s Action Group in Zimbabwe. Knowing that she is contributing to positive changes in women’s lives has been the greatest source of inspiration throughout her career.

Tsitsi holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Zimbabwe and an LL.M. in Human Rights Law from the University of Nottingham. Based in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, Tsitsi loves green walks, listening to music, and watching TV crime dramas.

She is available for interviews in English and Shona.