Zerbanoo Gifford

Zerbanoo Gifford (born India on 11 May 1950) is a Human Rights campaigner, author, and founding director of the ASHA Foundation. Zerbanoo is married to the international human rights lawyer Richard Gifford and lives in England. They have two sons, Mark Mazda and Alexander Justice.

"I pay particular tribute to one, Zerbanoo Gifford, a tireless campaigner for justice and human rights and a passionate advocate for democracy and women's empowerment. She is the founder of the Asha Centre in the Forest of Dean. "Asha" means "hope". It is a place of many faiths and cultures, a haven of peace and beauty where people, especially young people, from Britain, the European Union and the rest of the world come together to learn about conflict resolution. Arab and Jewish Israeli young people spend time with each other then go home united rather than divided. It promotes volunteering. The centre fosters community participation through a programme of projects, arts and working on the land encouraging young people to celebrate their similarities, not their differences. Young people, united by the strength of their common endeavour, work together for a better future in which we celebrate our differences as well as our similarities." Baroness Royall of Blaisdon 24 May 2012