Brazil

Nilcéa Freire

Representative Rio de Janeiro

Nilcéa Freire is the foundation’s representative for the Rio de Janeiro office. She oversees all of the foundation’s work in Brazil, where the chief priority is strengthening the rights of the underrepresented, Afro-Brazilians and indigenous peoples, in particular. Her individual grant making focuses on expanding access to higher education opportunities, racial justice and governance.

Prior to joining the foundation in 2011, Nilcéa was invited by President Luíz Inácio Lula da Silva to be the Minister of the Secretariat of Policies for Women (SPM)of the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, where she worked, from 2004-2010, on issues related to the advancement of gender equity and policies for the improvement of the conditions of women. In this role, she worked on implementing Brazil’s international commitments on gender-related; helped promote greater collaboration with NGOs and government agencies in Brazil and worldwide; served as the Brazilian delegate to the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Conference of the United Nations and the Interamerican Commision of Women of the Organization of American States (CIM) which she presided during two years. As minister, Nilcéa also presided over CIM and the National Council of the Rights of Women.

From 2000 to 2003, she served as rector of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), overseeing the academic and overall management of the university. Prior to being named rector, she had held academic and administrative positions at the university since 1980. Nilcéa also presided as the State Council of Education of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Nilcéa has a master’s degree in biological sciences from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Nilcéa received her bachelor’s degree in medicine from the State University of Rio de Janeiro with a residency in parasitology in the same university.

Issues and Initiatives

Nilcéa Freire manages the regional strategy in Brazil integrating the following initiatives:

Issue	Initiative
Human Rights	Advancing Racial Justice and Minority Rights Strengthening Human Rights Worldwide
Sustainable Development	Expanding Community Rights Over Natural Resources
Educational Opportunity and Scholarship	Advancing Higher Education Access and Success
Freedom of Expression	Advancing Media Rights and Access