Human rights defender's story: Betty Barkha from Fiji

Betty Barkha serves as an advisor for the Pacific region for the FRIDA Young Feminist Fund, a pioneering organisation that empowers young women through a collective grant-making approach. In this role, Betty reaches out to grassroots organisations to ensure they have necessary resources and support.

Her activism was sparked by a desire to contribute to solving the pressing issues in her community. Betty emphasises the importance of making human rights defenders aware of existing UN mechanisms and resources, which she feels are underutilised due to a lack of widespread knowledge.

She has been instrumental in bringing international attention to the intersection of women’s rights and climate change issues in the Pacific. Driven by a vision of a safer future, Betty aspires to see her region free from the existential threats posed by climate change and to hold responsible parties accountable for environmental damage.