Dr. Penelopa Gjurchilova
I hold a PhD in Law from the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, LL.M as Fulbright Scholar from University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT., USA. MPA from Harvard Kennedy School of Government as Mason and Kokkalis Fellow, Cambridge, MA, USA. JD from University Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, Macedonia and BA in international relations and diplomacy from the American College of Switzerland.
20 years of progressively responsible experience in gender equality issues, legal affairs, political analysis, international relations, security, development management, Human Rights and conflict resolution. I have extensive experience in providing substantive guidance and expert advice on the constitutional, legal and procedural developments to UN legislative bodies and subsidiary organs when I was Deputy Chief of Mission of Macedonia to the UN in New York 2004-2006 and responsive for the Security Council, Third, Fourth and Fifth Committees as well as UNDP.
I have been gender expert and consultant since 2000 first in the South East European Region – Macedonia, Kosovo and Croatia.
Since 2007, I have worked in India, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Solomon Islands for the UN Women, EU, UNESCO and international consultancy companies on gender mainstreaming, gender equality, access to justice and rule of law issues.
I have more than 17 years of progressively responsible experience in policy development and program management related to promotion of gender equality and operational gender mainstreaming in very diverse settings around the world.
I have extensive experience in integrating gender perspectives into mainstream policies and programs in conflict and post-conflict settings (Macedonia, Kosovo, Solomon Islands). I have extensive experience advising senior management and implementing the women, peace and security agenda.
2012 to 2014 I was, Columbia University Institute for the Study of Human Rights Visiting Scholar and Lecturer working precisely of WPS agenda.
I was 12 years senior multilateral diplomat from the Macedonian MFA including the post of Counselor at the Permanent Mission of Macedonia to the UN in New York.
I have experience in researching and drafting case studies in the ambit of international peace and security as well as extensive experience in drafting policy documents and analytical reports. I have experience in strategic and forward planning of committee agendas and work plans as well as experience in providing substantive and operational legal support to a high-level committee secretariat (MFA, OSCE, EU Delegation, UN). I have supervisory experience at MFA, UN Women, EU Delegation in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, OSCE Mission to Skopje). I have substantial experience working with the UN system and UN intergovernmental mechanisms (UNIFEM, UN Women, UNESCO, UN Women GFW, UN Trust Fund for EVAW/G) as well as with the European Commission with an experience providing leading support to committees, boards, task forces and similar.
I speak excellent English, Italian and good French in addition to my native languages.
Email: penelopa@memecs.net