Advocacy Programme Manager, The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation

Mary Izobo is an international human rights lawyer, gender equality advocate, and governance expert. She serves as the Advocacy Programme Manager at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), where she leads advocacy strategy, manages cross-cutting projects, and drives stakeholder engagement across national, regional, and global platforms. Mary is the founder of The Amazon Leadership Initiative (TheALI), a nonprofit organization that empowers women and girls through mentorship, education, and leadership development – aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

She holds multiple law degrees from institutions across the UK, US, South Africa, and Nigeria, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Laws (LLD) in international law and governance. Her career includes roles with the African Union, United Nations, and other leading institutions in the governance and human rights space. Mary is a 2023 Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, a U.S. State Department IVLP alumna, and has received numerous honors for her work, including recognition as one of Africa’s Top Legal Millennials.

Rise Up Cohort: South Africa, 2025