{{Short description|Dutch politician (born 1989)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = | honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|size=100%|MEP}} | image = 1707390815268 20240208 EP-164119A DEN 695.jpg | caption = Samira Rafaela at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (2024) | parliament = European | constituency_MP = the Netherlands | term_start = 2 July 2019 | term_end = 15 July 2024 | parliamentary_group = Renew Europe | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|02|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Zoetermeer, Netherlands | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democrats 66 | alma_mater = Leiden University | occupation = | profession = | website = }} '''Samira Rafaela''' (born 11 February 1989) is a Dutch politician of Democrats 66. She served as a Member of the European Parliament between 2019 and 2024,<ref>{{cite web |title=S. (Samira) Rafaela MA |url=https://www.parlement.com/id/vkyag1j2l9x6/s_samira_rafaela |website=www.parlement.com |accessdate=27 October 2020 |language=nl}}</ref><ref name="europarl">{{cite web |title=Samira RAFAELA |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197868/SAMIRA_RAFAELA/home |website=European Parliament |date=11 February 1989 |accessdate=26 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and she was also a member of the Young Democrats.<ref name="europarl"/>
== Early life == Rafaela grew up with her Jewish Dutch-Curaçaoan mother in Uitgeest. Her father was of Ghanaian-Nigerian descent and a practicing Muslim. She considers herself a progressive, liberal, feminist Muslim.<ref name="VK">{{cite web |last=Vuijsje |first=Robert |date=13 May 2019 |title=Samira Rafaela: 'In het Europese Parlement is een gebrek aan diversiteit in alles. Jong, vrouw en kleur: het zit er allemaal niet, of niet genoeg' |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/mensen/samira-rafaela-in-het-europese-parlement-is-een-gebrek-aan-diversiteit-in-alles-jong-vrouw-en-kleur-het-zit-er-allemaal-niet-of-niet-genoeg~b51c1546/ |access-date=30 May 2019 |publisher=De Volkskrant}}</ref>
She attended Bonhoeffer College in Castricum<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-05-12 |title=Oud-leerling Bonhoeffercollege verkiesbaar voor het Europees Parlement |url=https://www.kijkopcastricum.nl/nieuws/politiek/32606/oud-leerling-bonhoeffercollege-verkiesbaar-voor-het-europees-parlement- |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=www.kijkopcastricum.nl |language=nl |archive-date=13 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230613205519/https://www.kijkopcastricum.nl/nieuws/politiek/32606/oud-leerling-bonhoeffercollege-verkiesbaar-voor-het-europees-parlement- |url-status=dead }}</ref> and studied public administration at Leiden University. She did research on the causes of radicalization and terrorism and obtained a master's degree in Crisis and Security Management.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://afromagazine.nl/nieuws/samira-rafaela-gaat-voor-het-europarlement-%E2%80%9Cdit-gaat-over-ons-allemaal%E2%80%9D|website=Afromagazine.nl|title=Samira Rafaela gaat voor het EuroParlement / "Dit gaat over ons allemaal"|date=27 February 2019|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504174231/https://afromagazine.nl/nieuws/samira-rafaela-gaat-voor-het-europarlement-%E2%80%9Cdit-gaat-over-ons-allemaal%E2%80%9D|url-status=dead}}</ref> She worked as a policy maker and administrative advisor for the municipality of Amsterdam. In 2016, she transferred to the Police Netherlands, where she acted as project leader for inclusion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politiebond.nl/index.php/actueel/nieuws-and-blog/samira-rafaela-ik-wil-europa-in|publisher=Nederlandse Politiebond|title=Samira Rafaela: ik wil Europa in|date=16 May 2019|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531124023/https://www.politiebond.nl/index.php/actueel/nieuws-and-blog/samira-rafaela-ik-wil-europa-in|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a social entrepreneur, she worked in Africa with young talent and as an international trainer and speaker on women's participation, leadership, security and inclusion.
Samira Rafaela met President Barack Obama in 2019 when she was selected for his Townhall meeting in Berlin with 300 young leaders from Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Samira Rafaela ontmoette Obama en kreeg kers op haar taart |url=https://afromagazine.nl/nieuws/samira-rafaela-ontmoette-obama-en-kreeg-kers-op-haar-taart |website=Afromagazine |accessdate=16 January 2025 |language=nl}}</ref>
==Political career== Samira Rafaela was elected a Member of the European Parliament in the 2019 election, making her the first Dutch MEP with Afro-Caribbean roots.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baume |first1=Maïa de la |title=20 MEPs to watch in 2020 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/20-meps-to-watch-in-2020-european-parliament/ |website=Politico |accessdate=27 October 2020 |date=13 January 2020}}</ref> She has been a member of the Committee on International Trade (since 2019), the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (since 2019)<ref name="europarl"/> and the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (since 2021).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-26 |title=Movers and Shakers |url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/movers-and-shakers-26-march-2021 |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=The Parliament Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
In 2019, Rafaela delivered the prestigious Martin Luther King speech at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where she spoke about the role of activists and politicians in society.<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Luther King-lezing 2019 door Samira Rafaela |url=https://vu.nl/nl/verhalen/martin-luther-king-lezing-2019-door-samira-rafaela |website=Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref> Rafaela stated that if politicians want to bring about change, they should adopt a bit of an activist mindset as well.<ref>{{cite web |title=Als ik een bepaalde ambitie of energie voel bij iemand, dan wil ik daar meteen iets mee doen |url=https://www.nieuwwij.nl/interview/als-ik-een-bepaalde-ambitie-of-energie-voel-bij-iemand-dan-wil-ik-daar-meteen-iets-mee-doen/ |website=Nieuwwij |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
Rafaela was the Co-Chair of the Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup in the European Parliament. In 2020, she called for a U.S.-EU joint action plan against racism, which included dedicated funding and support for civil society initiatives.<ref>{{cite web |title=Progressing in Transatlantic Cooperation: ARDI co-chairs MEP Samira Rafaela and MEP Romeo Franz offer ways forward |url=https://www.ardi-ep.eu/progressing-in-transatlantic-cooperation-ardi-co-chairs-mep-samira-rafaela-and-mep-romeo-franz-offer-ways-forward/ |website=Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup |date=2020 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
In 2020, Rafaela was named one of the "20 MEPs to Watch in 2020" by Politico, highlighting her as a symbol of a new trade direction within the European Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |title=20 MEPs to watch in 2020 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/20-meps-to-watch-in-2020-european-parliament/ |website=Politico |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
In February 2021, Samira Rafaela requested that the European Commission initiate legal proceedings against the government of The Netherlands. She argued that the childcare benefits scandal involved institutional racism, which violated European laws and treaties.<ref>{{cite web |title=Europarlementariër D66 wil strafprocedure tegen Nederland om toeslagenaffaire |url=https://www.parool.nl/nederland/europarlementarier-d66-wil-strafprocedure-tegen-nederland-om-toeslagenaffaire~bfc34b55/?referrer=https://nl.wikipedia.org/ |website=Het Parool |date=17 February 2021 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
In 2023, Rafaela succeeded in securing a debate in the European Parliament about the childcare benefits scandal. The debate highlighted the need for ethical use of algorithms, using the scandal as an example of the risks associated with AI replacing human decision-making. During the debate, EU Commissioner Helena Dalli committed to monitoring the remediation process for the victims.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toeslagenaffaire besproken in Brussel: 'Dit was geen China, maar Nederland' |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2447228-toeslagenaffaire-besproken-in-brussel-dit-was-geen-china-maar-nederland |website=NOS |date=11 May 2023 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
In 2024, Samira Rafaela was shortlisted and nominated for the Youth Champion of the Mandate Awards for her work on eliminating inequalities, fostering sustainable trade policies, and promoting an inclusive labour market.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shortlist 2024 - MEP Awards |url=https://www.mepawards.eu/shortlist-2024/#:~:text=Samira%20Rafaela%2C%20a%20passionate%20D66,promoting%20an%20inclusive%20labor%20market |website=MEP Awards |accessdate=16 January 2025 |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209021853/https://www.mepawards.eu/shortlist-2024/#:~:text=Samira%20Rafaela%2C%20a%20passionate%20D66,promoting%20an%20inclusive%20labor%20market |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the same year, Samira Rafaela was listed among the Top 100 most politically influential Members of the European Parliament out of 705 members. She was also ranked in the top 20 for Social Policy and top 20 for Trade as the most influential Members throughout the mandate of 2019–2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 100 most politically influential Members of the European Parliament |url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r_mL7zryt7OX80HzQaKgrDM1pAjdU4Pqm6D2Mk_p-XE/edit?gid=0#gid=0 |website=Google Sheets |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref> Rafaela achieved the best score among Dutch Members of the European Parliament in the mandate of 2019–2024 due to her high performance as a Rapporteur.<ref>{{cite web |title=Europese verkiezingen: JA21 en SGP werken harder dan PVV en FVD |url=https://chrisaalberts.nl/2024/04/16/europese-verkiezingen-ja21-en-sgp-werken-harder-dan-pvv-en-fvd/ |website=Chris Aalberts |date=16 April 2024 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
Rafaela was the lead negotiator for the EU Pay Transparency directive.<ref>[https://nos.nl/artikel/2469478-openheid-over-salarissen-moet-loonkloof-tussen-man-en-vrouw-dichten]</ref> She was also the Rapporteur for the Forced Labour Regulation, an EU law that will ban products made from forced labour from the EU single market.<ref>[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240419IPR20551/products-made-with-forced-labour-to-be-banned-from-eu-single-market]</ref>
Samira Rafaela served as the Rapporteur for the Corporate Sustainability and Due Diligence Directive in the Employment and Social Affairs Committee.<ref>{{cite web |title=Samira Rafaela - Parliamentary History |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/197868/SAMIRA_RAFAELA/history/9 |website=European Parliament |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref> Rafaela was also the Rapporteur for the EU-Chile Trade Agreement, which included the first EU Gender and Trade chapter.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliament backs deeper political and economic ties with Chile |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240223IPR18099/parliament-backs-deeper-political-and-economic-ties-with-chile |website=European Parliament |date=23 February 2024 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
In addition, Rafaela worked on a plan of actions to combat anti-rights movements in Europe. She stated that anti-rights movements and the continuous misuse of EU public funds by anti-democratic actors are sometimes linked to foreign interference and are becoming increasingly common in institutions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Renew Europe sounds the alarm on the growing threats from anti-rights movements |url=https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2024-04-26/renew-europe-sounds-the-alarm-on-the-growing-threats-from-anti-rights-movements |website=Renew Europe Group |date=26 April 2024 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
In addition to her committee assignments, Rafaela was part of the Parliament's delegations to the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) and to the EU–Chile Joint Parliamentary Committee.<ref name="europarl"/> She also co-chaired the European Parliament Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup and was a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on Artificial Intelligence and Digital<ref>[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/about-parliament/files/organisation-and-rules/organisation/intergroups/list-of-members-artificial-intelligence-and-digital.pdf Intergroup on Artificial Intelligence and Digital] European Parliament.</ref> and the European Parliament Intergroup on Disability.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bureau |url=https://www.ardi-ep.eu/about/our-bureau/ |website=Anti-Racism and Diversity Intergroup (ARDI) |accessdate=27 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Members of the Disability Intergroup - Renew Europe |url=http://edf-feph.org/members-disability-intergroup-renew-europe |website=European Disability Forum |accessdate=27 October 2020}}</ref>
In 2023, Rafaela – together with Malin Björk and Evin Incir – alleged in a letter to the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola that their fellow MEPs Anders Vistisen, Isabella Adinolfi and Cristian Terheș breached Parliament's rules on offensive language during a debate on the ratification of the 2011 Istanbul convention against gender-based violence and urged Metsola to investigate.<ref>{{cite web |first1=Eddy |last1=Wax |first2=Gregorio |last2=Sorgi |date=11 May 2023 |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/meps-european-parliament-denounced-for-racist-sexist-and-transphobic-hate-speech/ |title=Three MEPs denounced for racist, sexist and transphobic 'hate speech' in European Parliament |work=Politico Europe}}</ref>
In 2022, an internal investigation by D66 issued Samira Rafaela a warning following complaints from former co-workers.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Aharouay |first1=Lamyae |last2=de Witt Wijnen |first2=Philip |date=2022-05-13 |title=Scheuring in Brusselse fractie van D66, klachten over Europarlementariër Samira Rafaela |work=NRC Handelsblad |url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/13/scheuring-in-brusselse-fractie-van-d66-na-klachten-over-europarlementarier-samira-rafaela-a4124396 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015180837/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/05/13/scheuring-in-brusselse-fractie-van-d66-na-klachten-over-europarlementarier-samira-rafaela-a4124396 |archive-date=2022-10-15}}</ref> However, in August of that same year, an independent dispute committee found the investigation to be flawed and declared the warning entirely unjustified, fully exonerating Rafaela.<ref>{{cite news |last=Damen |first=Fleur |date=2022-11-24 |title=D66 berispte Europarlementariër Rafaela onterecht; integriteitsonderzoek 'onzorgvuldig' |language=nl |work=de Volkskrant |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/d66-berispte-europarlementarier-rafaela-onterecht-integriteitsonderzoek-onzorgvuldig~bb59a018/ |access-date=2022-12-02}}</ref><ref>[https://www.elle.com/nl/lifestyle/a45530405/samira-rafaela-interview/]</ref>
In 2023, Rafaela alerted the European Commission to "very worrying practices" by major social media platforms, alleging that these platforms were secretly hiding certain posts and content they deemed incompatible with their own opinions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliamentary Question E-003111/2023 |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2023-003111_EN.html |website=European Parliament |date=2023 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
== Women's rights and health advocacy == Rafaela served as the Renew Europe Rapporteur for the EU Women on Boards Directive, where she introduced a ‘faming list’ to give positive recognition to companies promoting gender equality.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Women on Boards Directive: At last, the European Union takes legal measures towards gender equality |url=https://www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2022-11-22/the-women-on-boards-directive-at-last-the-european-union-takes-legal-measures-towards-gender-equality |website=Renew Europe Group |date=22 November 2022 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref> Rafaela also addressed the issue of the ‘pink tax’, urging the European Commission to amend EU legislation to prevent women and girls from paying more than men for the same products.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pink tax: Why are women's razors more expensive than men's? |url=https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2471052-pink-tax-waarom-een-scheermes-voor-vrouwen-duurder-is-dan-voor-mannen |website=NOS Nieuwsuur |date=16 May 2021 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Question for written answer E-002131/2021 |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2021-002131_EN.html |website=European Parliament |date=2021 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
In 2022, Samira Rafaela, along with other Members of the European Parliament, urged the European Commission to promote greater gender balance in the EU health strategy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliamentary Question E-003864/2022 |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-9-2022-003864_EN.html |website=European Parliament |date=2022 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref> In 2024, Rafaela launched the initiative Let’s Talk About Our Bodies and presented a manifesto to EU Commissioner Helena Dalli, advocating for increased research and development in women's health.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lancering van het 'Let's Talk About Our Bodies' Manifesto |url=https://samirarafaela.eu/2024/06/19/lancering-van-het-lets-talk-about-our-bodies-manifesto/ |website=Samira Rafaela |date=19 June 2024 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref> In 2022, Rafaela spoke publicly about her personal experiences with menstrual health and fibroids, highlighting the need for greater awareness among women and the medical community.<ref>{{cite web |title=Europarlementariër Samira Rafaela over menstruatiepijn en zorg |url=https://www.linda.nl/nieuws/politiek/europarlementarier-samira-rafaela-menstruatiepijn-zorg/ |website=LINDA. |date=2022 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
==Civic engagement and outreach== In 2023, Rafaela launched Europe to the Streets, a project aimed at bringing European politics closer to citizens.<ref>{{cite web |title=Europa naar de Straat |url=https://dezwijger.nl/programma/europa-naar-de-straat |website=De Zwijger |date=2023 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
==2024 European Parliament election== In 2023, Samira Rafaela received a positive recommendation from an internal D66 committee, which included senior party leaders such as Sigrid Kaag, the current UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Gaza. The committee advised that she run as the lead candidate for D66 in the 2024 European elections.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kandidatenboek lijsttrekker Europese Parlementsverkiezing 2024 |url=https://www.mijnd66.nl/cms/media/3151/kandidatenboek-lijsttrekker-europese-parlementsverkiezing-2024.pdf |website=Mijnd66 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref>
Rafaela ultimately lost the internal election after four rounds, receiving 41.5% of the votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=D66-leden wijzen Gerbrandy aan als lijsttrekker in Europa |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2492123-d66-leden-wijzen-gerbrandy-aan-als-lijsttrekker-in-europa |website=NOS |date=2023 |accessdate=16 January 2025}}</ref> On 21 December 2023, she announced she would not seek re-election in the 2024 European Parliament election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roorda |first=Jasper |date=2023-12-21 |title=Europarlementariër Samira Rafaela (D66) stopt |url=https://brusselsenieuwe.nl/europarlementarier-samira-rafaela-d66-stopt/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Brusselse Nieuwe |language=nl-NL}}</ref> Her term ended on 15 July 2024.<ref name="europarl"/>
Rafaela is now a visiting fellow at Cornell University Global Labor Institute where she works on global labor governance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=GLI Announces new visiting fellow MEP Samira Rafaela {{!}} The ILR School |url=https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/global-labor-institute/news-and-events/gli-announces-new-visiting-fellow-mep-samira-rafaela |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.ilr.cornell.edu |language=en}}</ref>
==Recognition== * 2020 – International Woman of the Year, awarded by ''Harper's Bazaar''<ref>Yoni Moldovan (16 December 2020), [https://www.harpersbazaar.com/nl/women-of-the-year/a34984853/woman-of-the-year-2020-samira-rafeala/ Women of the Year 2020: Samira Rafaela is Bazaars International Woman of the Year] ''Harper's Bazaar''.</ref> * 2023 – Changemaker, awarded by Rise and Lead Women<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awards {{!}} Celebrating Companies Advancing Diversity And Equality |url=https://riseandleadwomen.com/awards2024 |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=Rise And Lead Women |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rafaela, Samira}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Democrats 66 MEPs Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2019–2024 Category:21st-century women MEPs for the Netherlands Category:Dutch people of Jewish descent Category:Dutch feminists Category:Dutch Muslims Category:Dutch people of Nigerian descent Category:Dutch people of Ghanaian descent Category:Dutch people of Curaçaoan descent Category:Proponents of Islamic feminism Category:Leiden University alumni