Debora Kayembe

Debora Kayembe Buba (born in April 1975) is a Scottish human rights lawyer and political activist. She has served on the board of the Scottish Refugee Council, and is a member of the office of the prosecutor at the International Criminal Court and the International Criminal Court Bar Association.

Background in the DRC She originally comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Educated at the Universite Libre de Kinshasa, Kayembe was a human rights activist with the NGO Toges noires (Black Togas) before her career as a barrister began with the Congolese Bar Association in 2000. and is their expert lawyer for the RSE working group for Africa.

In 2019, she became the first African to have her portrait erected on the wall of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, honouring her achievements and contributions.

In 2020, Kayembe faced racist attacks on her home in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian and later in relation to her election as rector. She started the Freedom Walk campaign, a civil rights movement lobbying on behalf of citizens and petitioning by promoting social reforms, racial justice and community harmony, in particularly with regard to educational racism. Kayembe became the third woman since 1858

Kayembe's focus as rector for the three years will be on the COVID-19 pandemic, fighting racism, encouraging diversity and equal access to higher education. In welcoming her to the university, Principal and Vice Chancellor Peter Mathieson was looking forwards to working with her to 'build a bright future for the entire University'.

External sources (media) Debora Kayembe Official YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjFcSwigkzEoGtcKhVbNoA