Sofia Scarlat

Sofia is a 19-year-old advocate from Romania, working with a focus on girls and women's rights, including gender-based violence and human trafficking prevention, sexual health and reproductive rights, and youth empowerment.

She is the founder of the country’s first and currently only youth-led, gender equality organisation, Girl Up Romania, where she has coordinated advocacy, research, and education initiatives that have reached thousands of young Romanians, supported survivors, and that has led to successful, country-wide policy change. Sofia is experienced in organising and consulting for UN structures such as UN Women, where she served as one of the youngest members of the Generation Equality Youth Task Force, and has conducted research for organisations such as Innovations for Poverty Action and the Clayman Institute for Gender Research.

Currently, Sofia serves as the university’s co-director for the Sexual Violence Prevention Committee, organising to prevent campus sexual violence through advocacy and policy-change efforts.

Sofia’s work has been recognised internationally, receiving nominations for awards such as the International Children’s Peace Prize and the Princess of Girona International Award.

One action Sofia would like everyone to take:

“Take time to research and learn about sexual and reproductive health and rights in the context of Eastern Europe, with a specific emphasis on access to abortions and contraception for Ukrainian refugees.”

Follow Sofia on LinkedIn.