Batulo Essak

Thematic expertise: Peace-building and political decision-making, gender and social equality, raising awareness of women and children in international humanitarian priorities, supporting and promoting work of Women’s Organizations 

Regional/country-specific expertise: East Africa, Somalia, Finland

Languages: Finnish, English, Russian and Somali

Batulo Essak is a Somalia-born civil society leader, distinguished for her work on multiculturalism and advancing gender equality. She is a midwife and public nurse by profession, which has led her to engage extensively in women’s rights issues both in Finland and Somalia. She has played prominent roles in the Advisory Board for Ethnic Relations and the Honours Committee on Equality in Finland to mention only a few, as well as having been elected to the Vantaa City Council 2005-2008. She is currently leading efforts to support women to meaningfully engage in peace-building and political decision-making in Somalia. Ms. Essak has received considerable recognition for her work for gender and social equality. In 2006, she received the Aleksandra Award from the Finnish Central Association of Women’s Organizations for her work promoting equality in both Finland and internationally for over two decades. In 2016 Batulo was awarded the D&K-Suomi Humanitarian Award which recognises individuals and/or entities committed to supporting vulnerable people, particularly African women and children, and to raising awareness of international humanitarian priorities.