Hilary Gbedemah Biography

Hilary Amesika Gbedemah is a distinguished Ghanaian lawyer and women’s rights advocate. She served on the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) from 2013 to 2024, including as Chairperson from 2019 to February 2021.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Ghana, a Master’s in Law and Diploma in Leadership and Advocacy from Georgetown University, a Certificate in International Humanitarian Law from the Henri Dunant Institute in Geneva, and a PhD from the University of Northampton.

Formerly the Rector of the Law Institute in Ghana, Gbedemah has contributed significantly to advancing women’s rights globally through her work on CEDAW’s Access to Justice, Right to Education, and Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives. She has also presented at international forums, including the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the International Women and Justice Summit.