Anita Asante

Anita Asante is a former Lioness defensive midfielder and centre back who earned 71 international caps over a 14-year career, including representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She made her England debut in 2004 and went on to compete in two FIFA Women’s World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. Notably, Asante kicked off the first-ever women’s Olympic football match for Team GB in 2012. Her club career began with Arsenal, where she was part of the historic quadruple-winning team that claimed the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Premier League, Premier League Cup, and FA Cup in a single season.

Away from the pitch, Anita has become a respected media voice, working as a pundit and commentator for BBC Sport, ITV, and Sky Sports, and as a columnist for The Guardian. She has become one of the game’s leading advocates and allies, championing marginalised communities and promoting the need for gender, racial and LGBTQ+ equality.

Anita works closely with Amnesty to champion human rights, equality, and social justice, particularly in relation to discrimination, freedom of expression, and the role of sport in challenging injustice. Anita is a brilliant panel speaker, and has represented Amnesty at a range of events, including our #FootballWelcomes panel discussion, engaging refugee women and girls in football (2021) and at our UK Embassy joint event – El Futbol: A Force for Good, addressing what more needs to be done to make football more inclusive (2023).

Amnesty Ambassadors are made up of profile individuals from a broad range of disciplines. Using their profile and networks our Ambassador’s allow us to educate, amplify and inspire more and more people to join the fight for human rights.