Maria Kafaei Zandeh Del
Maria is the founder and spokesperson for SASH, a Danish-Iranian activist and a key figure in promoting the debate about gender apartheid in Denmark.
Her life experiences, shaped by her childhood imprisonment in Iran, have laid the foundation for her interest in politics and human rights. Maria has a deep knowledge and expertise in feminism as well as the political dynamics in the Middle East, Central Asia and Denmark.
Through the Women, Life, Freedom movement and the Political Sponsors in Denmark campaign, which has become part of Amnesty International Denmark, she has engaged Danish politicians and raised awareness about executions in Iran. Maria acts as a bridge builder for activists both in and outside Denmark.
Lotte Bjerg Thomsen
Lotte has been a board member and communications officer for the NASIM association for many years, where she also tried her hand at developing lectures and other outreach events, primarily about Israel and Palestine. Previously, she worked as a research assistant for the Israeli NGO, Zochrot, in a project that documented and mapped the original settlements of Bedouins in the Negev Desert in southern Israel.
Khaled Farajpour
Khaled belongs to Iran’s Arab minority. In his pursuit of freedom and democracy, he undertook a dangerous journey on foot, traveling 2,000 kilometers in 25 days while escaping from Iran. He is a dedicated activist who advocates for climate justice and minority rights.
Khaled is also a fitness instructor and nursing assistant with a strong background in medical knowledge and emergency response. Today, he works as a team leader at the Danish company Nordic Soda.
Lisa Blinkenberg
Lisa has over 25 years of experience in human rights, including work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark’s UN Mission in New York, the UN General Assembly, the Human Rights Commission, and the EU Council Secretariat. Until August 2024, she was a senior advisor at Amnesty Denmark, focusing on advocacy for refugee and women’s rights as well as a shrinking civil society. She has also worked on girls' and women’s rights in Afghanistan and Iran, as well as Amnesty’s policy on gender apartheid
Maria De Freiesleben Christoffersen
Maria holds a Master of Social Sciences in Global and Development Studies with a strong professional interest in women's rights and global development issues. She has researched and written projects on women's rights, including the situation of women in Afghanistan after the Taliban took power in 2021, as well as the Women, Life, Freedom movement and its diaspora. Maria has previously volunteered at Fatima's Hand and now works as a consultant and project manager at Dansk Standard with a focus on sustainability, equality and diversity.
Luna Otto
Luna is passionate about gender equality and financial empowerment. In her day job, she works as a financial controller at Female Invest, where she ensures a strong finance function and contributes to strengthening women's financial understanding and opportunities. In addition to her professionalism, Luna, who is a cashier, also brings a commitment to financial transparency and gender equality.
Kristine Rømer
Kristine has over 10 years of experience in leading and coordinating projects within gender equality, youth rights and combating violence against girls and women. With a master's degree in communications and experience from, among others, kinfo and the Women's Council, she has gained a deep understanding of these complex issues. Today, she is a project manager at the National Union of Students in Denmark, where she continues to work to create positive change.