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Contact:
Name: Dr. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo
Department of Public and Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus,
Founding Director, Women Aid Collective (WACOL) www.wacolnigeria.org
Phone: +234-8033062359
Email: joy.ezeilo@unn.edu.ng ; ezeilojoy@yahoo.co.uk
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children (August 1, 2008 to July 31st 2014).
Link to: United Nations TV Documentary on trafficking focusing on my work on human trafficking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE_mSntYm8M
Brief Biography
Dr. Ezeilo is an activist and versatile legal scholar recognized as a leading authority in the field of human rights, especially on the rights of women and children in Africa. She teaches Law at the Department of Public and Private Law, Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria and pioneered, since 1997, the teaching of the Course, “Women, Children and the Law” making her Faculty and University the first to do so. She was appointed in 2008 as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, and served in that capacity globally until July 31st 2014. She was appointed in December 2013 by the UN Secretary General as a member of the Board of Trustees UN Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking. She is also the founding director of WomenAid Collective (WACOL), a national organization that promotes human rights of women and young people. She was a former Commissioner for Gender and Social Development, Enugu State, a federal delegate to the National Political Reform Conference and currently serves as a member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA). Joy Ezeilo is a recipient of the prestigious British Chevening scholarship (1995) and a grantee of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Funds for Leadership Development (1998). She has also received several national and international awards, including being conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) in 2006 by the then President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) in recognition of her outstanding contributions in the area of nation building, legal scholarship, advocacy, civil society movement and community service. Dr. Ezeilo is a visiting professor to several universities, especially in North America and a regent Professor, University of California, Riverside (2001). As a legal practitioner, barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, she takes on human rights cases on a pro bono basis, representing poor and vulnerable women and young people. She has delivered public lectures around the world on human rights, human trafficking, gender, peace, democracy and good governance, and has published extensively in similar areas of law. She has served as a consultant/trainer in human rights, gender issues, HIV/AIDS, governance and conflict resolution to many international and national organizations, including National Judicial Institute (NJI), UNDP, UN Women, UNICEF, MacArthur Foundation, UNFPA, ILO, DFID, EU, etc.
Her recent publications include: Women, Law and Human Rights: National and Global Perspectives (2011), Nigerian and Cameroun: The Bakassi Dispute, NJR, 2002-2010; Human Rights Documents Relevant to Women and Children’s Rights in Nigeria (2008), Feminism and Islamic Fundamentalism: Some Perspectives from Nigeria and Beyond SIGNS of Women, Culture & Society, Journal Autumn 2006 issue (vol.32, no. 1) Feminism and Human Rights at Crossroads in Africa? Reconciling Universalism and Cultural Relativism (See Pages 231-252). A Chapter in the book Difference and Dialogue: Feminism Challenges Globalization Edited by Marguerite R. Waller and Sylvia Marcos Palgrave: Macmillan (Comparative Feminist Studies) New York, USA 2005. Also, Amazons Go to War Without Weapon: Women and the Conflict in Escravos, Niger –Delta a chapter in the Book: Wages of Empire- Neoliberal Policy Repression and Women’s Poverty. She co-edited the book Engendering Human Rights, Cultural and Economic Realities in Africa published by Palgrave, Macmillan (2005) and has authored over forty (40) publications including books and journal articles.
In April, 2013 she was recognized by Newsweek/Daily Beast International Magazine, USA as one of the 125 women of impact in the world for her work, especially in combating human trafficking--a modern day slavery.
Joy Ngozi Ezeilo is high Chief in Igboland and she’s popularly called – triple Chief, that is Ochendo, Ada ejiejemba, and Nzebuna chi.
Joy Ezeilo is married to a medical doctor and public health physician, Augustine Ezenta Ezeilo. They have three children—Chidulue, Nnenna and Onyinye.