Steve Bazikwinshi Irakoze

Steve Bazikwinshi Irakoze is a program manager at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, where he oversees a program that supports developing and diverse leaders in Europe. Previously, he advocated for the rights of migrant families, especially LGBTQ+ migrants, before the European Court of Human Rights. Dozens of people have avoided deportation as a result of his legal assistance. Steve volunteers to address a range of issues, including the European Commission on migration issues, and the United Nations to help people of African heritage in Europe use their power. He also supports the LGBTQ+ community in France. He considers radical kindness and empathy to be two of his biggest strengths.