Elizabeth Rijo 

President, CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DIASPORE E MIGRAZIONI

Elizabeth Rijo is a social entrepreneur, humanitarian leader, and diaspora advocate committed to advancing social justice, inclusion, and sustainable development across Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

As President of CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DIASPORE E MIGRAZIONI (CONADIMI) and co-founder of several diaspora-led initiatives, she has spearheaded innovative programs in the fields of migration, youth empowerment, gender equality, climate justice, and community resilience, with projects spanning Italy, Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Rwanda, Senegal, Uganda, and beyond.

Under her leadership, CONADIMI promotes and, since May 31, 2025, has launched The General States of Immigration in Italy, a national platform for dialogue, policy innovation, and collaboration on migration and diaspora affairs. Within this initiative, there is a dedicated working table on human trafficking, strengthening Italy’s commitment to addressing and preventing exploitation through multi-sector cooperation.

She serves as Treasurer of the Coordinamento Italiano delle Diaspore per la Cooperazione Internazionale (CIDCI), a national platform uniting more than 100 diaspora associations to strengthen transnational cooperation and global citizenship.

Elizabeth’s work bridges grassroots realities with institutional frameworks, ensuring that marginalized voices—especially women, youth, and migrants—are at the center of policy dialogue and action. Guided by the values of justice, dignity, and intercultural solidarity, she champions partnerships that connect communities across continents and align with the UN Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

At the 2025 Global Summit for Justice and Healing, Elizabeth brings her expertise in diaspora leadership, intercultural dialogue, and survivor-centered advocacy, inspiring bold strategies to combat human trafficking, femicide, and gender-based violence while promoting healing and transformative change.