Rwandan Named among Among Most Influencial Leaders in Foreign Policy

{{A Rwandan has been recognised on the 2013 “99 Under 33” list as one of the world’s Top 99 most influential foreign policy leaders under the age of 33}}.

Mr Elvis Mbembe Binda is President and Cofounder Initiatives for Peace and Human Rights (IPHR).

“99 Under 33” is an international list jointly launched by Diplomatic Courier and Young Professional in Foreign Policy in 2011 to capture the extraordinary impact on international affairs of 99 diverse Millennials under the age of 33.

Several hundred people were nominated this year by last year’s 99 Under 33 honorees, ambassadors, business leaders, and scholars.

Only 99 were selected after a rigorous three-step process by the Selection Committee. The list and individuals profiles of the Top 99 Under 33 offer insight into creativity, determination, and passion of the young people like Elvis Mbembe who are already tackling and solving the world’s critical global challenges.

Elvis Mbembe is recognized for the work he is doing with our organization, IPHR, which is a local NGO that strives to enhance the culture of peace in the Great Lakes region through widespread human rights and good governance education.

For instance, in May this year IPHR organized a regional moot court competition on international humanitarian law and human rights that brought to Kigali law students and teachers from fourteen (14) universities of Burundi, DR Congo and Rwanda.

Two students who won the competition were automatically admitted to pursue a Master’s programme (LL.M) in Advanced Studies of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights at the Geneva Academy in Switzerland with full scholarship.

Born in a mixed marriage between his Congolese father and his Rwandan mother, Elvis was constrained by events to take action in front of peace challenges that DR Congo and Rwanda are facing since late 90s. He initiated the creation of IPHR to make a contribution in the ongoing peace-building process.

At IPHR we firmly believe that human rights and good governance education is a prerequisite for any sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region. Elvis Mbembe is also teaching law at the National University of Rwanda since 2007. Currently he is working towards a PhD at Utrecht University in the Netherlands.