16 Facts About Petra Stienen

Petra Stienen was born on 1965 and is a Dutch human rights advocate with more than thirty years' experience in diplomacy, international relations, civil society, social entrepreneurship and politics.

Petra Stienen was born in Roermond in the southern part of the Netherlands.

Petra Stienen pursued her studies in Arabic language at Leiden University and Cairo University, eventually earning a master's degree in Middle Eastern studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in the United Kingdom.

In 1992, Petra Stienen embarked on her diplomatic career, joining the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Petra Stienen was stationed in Cairo until 1999, where her work focused on human rights, development, and culture.

In September 2009, Petra Stienen left her diplomatic career behind to pursue a consultancy path.

Petra Stienen's clients included government agencies, non-governmental organizations, governments, and international companies.

Petra Stienen's columns were regularly featured in the feminist magazine Opzij and the daily newspaper the Limburger, she wrote for NRC Handelsblad and de Volkskrant.

Petra Stienen became a well-known television and radio commentator on Middle Eastern politics, particularly during the Arab revolutions, and frequently engaged as a public speaker on topics such as the role of the Netherlands and Europe in the Middle East, integration, women's rights, and gender equality.

Petra Stienen has coached leaders across various domains on charismatic leadership.

Petra Stienen made significant legislative contributions, including the passage of the Environmental Act bill.

Petra Stienen was a member of the parliamentary inquiry committee on anti-discrimination legislation and played a key role in the adoption of a feminist foreign policy by the Dutch government.

Petra Stienen has been a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe and served on committees related to equality, non-discrimination, migration, and human rights.

Petra Stienen believes in giving part of her time to voluntary work and board memberships in the cultural and social sector.

In February 2012, Petra Stienen was awarded the Women in the Media Award 2011 in recognition of her communication talent.

In 2016, Petra Stienen was awarded the Aletta Jacobs Prize by the University of Groningen for "using her work to represent and transmit the voices of women who would otherwise not be heard".