Saoussen Ben Cheikh is a Human Rights professional who has over 10 years' experience working extensively across the Middle East and North Africa region delivering aid, mentoring grass roots initiatives, documenting Human Rights violations and researching on issues of governance and democracy. She has specialized in managing programs in high risk environment. In Internews, she is part of the "Closed States program" supporting media and civil society in the most challenging context of conflict and repression. She is currently overseeing a wide range of activities focusing on development, peace building, gender and youth. Saoussen is based in London and was prior a PhD researcher on State and Conflict in the MENA region in the University of Nice (France).