On August 6, 2020, the Ban Ki-moon Centre launched a new interview series: #superwomen. The first guest for the series hosted by BKMC CEO Monika Froehler, was Aya Chebbi the first African Union Envoy on Youth.  

#superwoman in this new Ban Ki-moon Centre interview series that highlights the stories of incredible female role models, who have a special calling and are making an impact on the world.

Aya Chebbi, a Pan-African activist, Tunisian diplomat, and feminist, became the first appointed African Union Envoy on youth in November 2018. During the interview, she was able to give insight into her background and the moment she decided on her path.

She described this moment during the Tunisian Revolution as “It starts from identity. If you don’t know who you are,  if you don’t tell the world who you are, the world starts putting labels on you. I started a blog and the conversation about who we were and about the revolution.”

Answering why she is the person she is today she mentioned the first moment she realized her calling “When I was 9. There was a ritual to ‘save’ a girl’s virginity. After crying that night, I realized there had been a violation of rights because of my gender. I became convinced that these practices were weapons of patriarchy. That’s when I became a feminist.” 

She continued “The second turning point was when the rebel in me turned into a political voice. I didn’t think that I could be on the frontline and speak up. But we stood up even though we knew that the person next to us could be shot, killed, or imprisoned.”

The #superwomen concluded the interview by a little guidance “Your power is your radical self. Find it, and live with it. You don’t just dream about it. Be that person and go liberate yourself.”

Watch the full interview below and don’t miss the word-rap at the end. 

#Feminism: is radical when women support women #Growth: inner peace #Africa: what I breathe and live for every day, every soul, my mind, everything.

The second #superwomen interview will be held on September 2nd with the UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake.