# Zarin Hainsworth

Zarin Hainsworth Fadaei (born August 1959) is a British women's rights activist. She has contributed to gender equality and human rights discussions at the United Nations and within the UK government.

## Early life and education

Hainsworth was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Phillip and Lois Hainsworth. She earned a bachelor's degree in English and Drama from Aberystwyth University in 1983.

## Career

In 1997, Hainsworth founded Serene Communications, a firm that provides training for civil organizations and corporations. She has held leadership positions in several women's rights organizations.
In 2004, she became chairperson of the National Alliance of Women's Organizations (NAWO). Hainsworth served as president of Widows Rights International (WRI) and co-founded Advance, a social enterprise focused on justice, entrepreneurship, and education for women and girls.
A member of the Baha'i community in the United Kingdom, Hainsworth represented the Baha'i International Community as a delegate to the United Nations 54th Commission on the Status of Women. She has worked as a gender expert for the British Council, a member of UN Women UK, and chaired UNIFEM UK from 2005 to 2010. She also chaired the Stroud Business Women's Network (SBWN) and served as an ambassador for the Women's Entrepreneurs Group.
In 2010, Hainsworth founded Naserian, a Tanzanian NGO providing legal awareness training and economic empowerment programs for Maasai widows. That same year, she became a member of Ethical Business Building the Future (EBBF).
She has consulted for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2012 and founded Impact Travels, a travel firm, in 2019.
Hainsworth has also chaired the UK Civil Society Women's Alliance and led the UK NGO CSW Alliance, representing civil society organizations in discussions with the United Nations and the UK Government Equalities Office.

### Advocacy and policy influence

Hainsworth has participated in United Nations discussions, advocating for women's inclusion in global policymaking. She has spoken at events addressing gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and civil society's role in promoting gender equality.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she highlighted the crisis's impact on women, particularly regarding employment, unpaid caregiving, and domestic violence. Hainsworth has supported policies addressing gender-based violence, economic empowerment, and social protection measures.
Hainsworth has participated in UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) sessions, working on gender-based violence, women's participation in decision-making, and the ratification of the Istanbul Convention. At the 2008 UN Commission on the Status of Women, Hainsworth discussed the phrase 'the girl child' and its role in advancing girls' rights. In 2013, she co-led an evaluation of the 'Building Women's Movements in Iraq' program for the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation. The evaluation examined violence, political participation, economic empowerment, and security sector reform in conflict-affected regions.
In 2016, Hainsworth co-signed an open letter to Boris Johnson, urging action for Amina Al-Jeffery, a British citizen detained in Saudi Arabia. She has also worked to strengthen legislation against human trafficking and advocated for victim protection.
Hainsworth has contributed to human rights and sustainability discussions, including forums like the Zaragoza Expo 2008 on water and sustainability. She has conducted training seminars on international gender equality mechanisms through organizations such as the Kurdish Human Rights Project (KHRP).
In 2017, she appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour to discuss women's roles in Brexit negotiations.

## Recognition

Hainsworth was listed among 100 Women: The Unseen Powerful Women Who Change the World in 2010. She received recognition from Cambridge Who’s Who for her leadership in training services. In 2012, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her contributions to women's rights and gender equality.

## Personal life

Hainsworth is married to Soroush Fadaei. The couple have four children: Iman, Iqan, Erfan, and Anisa.