‘Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki

fakilevuka (‘Ofa) Guttenbeil-Likiliki is an Oceanic feminist researcher and storyteller/filmmaker, a women and children’s rights advocate and the Director of the Women and Children Crisis Centre in Tonga.

She is a facilitator and trainer in human rights, gender equality/equity, and women’s leadership across the Oceanic Pacific and an adviser to the International Women’s Development Agency.

‘Ofa has been nominated twice for the US Secretary of State International Women of Courage Award for her activism and advocacy for women and children’s rights in Tonga.

‘Ofa has contributed to research on women’s political participation, and the impact of COVID-19 on women’s economic empowerment in Tonga.

In 2019, she led research with 35 women leaders across the Oceanic Pacific, titled ‘Creating Equitable South-North Partnerships: Nurturing the Vā and Voyaging the Audacious Ocean Together’ that boldly calls for the reimagining of Global South-North relations in international development and humanitarian aid spaces.