Desirée Viteri Almeida is an Ecuadorian lawyer, gender activist and human rights defender, specializing in gender-based violence.

An advocate for gender equality, Desirée currently serves as undersecretary of prevention and eradication of violence against women, girls, boys and adolescents at the Ministry of Women and Human Rights. Her work involves the development, monitoring and evaluation of compliance with public policy, the articulation of specialized comprehensive protection systems, the implementation of violence prevention programs and the provision of services of care, protection and comprehensive reparation for a life free of violence.

Prior to that, Desirée was the director of care, special protection, and reparation for victims of violence, exploitation, trafficking, and other priority care groups at the Ministry of Women and Human Rights. She also managed the "Violet Centers" Investment Project at the Ministry of Women and Human Rights and served as the human rights, gender, and inclusion national director. Desirée is committed to advancing human rights in areas such as gender equality, education, peace, justice, migration, and health, in collaborations with various institutions including the Ministry of Women and Human Rights, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the EU, the National Court of Justice, universities, and embassies.

She holds a master’s degree in political analysis and institutional consulting from the University of Barcelona.

Her research as an AsiaGlobal Fellow will focus on analyzing the progress of gender equality and women's empowerment in Asia.