Maria Giannakaki was born in Piraeus. She has studied Classic Literature, European and International Relations at the University of Athens and she has done postgraduate studies in History of Art, Human Rights and Cultural Management in France, Modern and Contemporary History in Panteion University and Religion, Geopolitics and International Security in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

She graduated from the National School of Public Administration in the sector of Public Diplomacy. She has been Press and Culture Attachée at the Permanent Representation of Greece at the Council of Europe, Secretary of State for Human Rights, Head of the National Council Against
Racism and Intolerance.

In 2013, she was elected as general Rapporteur against Racism and Intolerance of the Council of Europe.

She is member of the Network because I constantly believe that gender plays a pivotal role in the field of peacebuilding and, particularly, in the establishment of long-term conditions for sustainable peace through a gendered perspective and that the gender power dynamics shape peace processes.

She has participated in various missions of Council of Europe and OSCE which the aim was the women’s capacity building and conflict resolutions in Asia, Europe and Africa.

In Greece she has worked for a long period with women refugees at the camps to empower them and to serve as mediator. She has also worked as mediator between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots women.