Marissa Kokkoros
Marissa Kokkoros is the Founder and Executive Director of Aura Freedom International. She has worked with survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking survivors for over 15 years, has consulted at different levels of Canadian government for action plans addressing gender-based violence, and is a key advisor for numerous initiatives and projects to advance women’s rights in Canada and globally. Marissa started her journey in women’s rights doing field work with different organizations around the world. From her travels in Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Nepal, Italy, The Balkans and more, she has conducted community research and documented the social position of women and girls in different places, as well as the greater community impact of male violence against women. A bold feminist writer, Marissa’s advocacy, campaigns and publications on violence against women and human trafficking have been featured internationally and recognized by different human rights organizations. In 2023, Marissa initiated the Urgent Call to Action to have the City of Toronto, her birth city, declare Intimate Partner Violence an Epidemic. On July 20, 2023 the Epidemic was declared.