As a former member of the Commission on Human Security, Dr. Frene Ginwala has continued to work actively on issues pertaining to human security. She was one of 12 distinguished experts of the Commission on Human Security who engaged in a programme of global outreach and consultation on the concept of human security. The Commission’s work culminated in a report entitled: Human Security Now: Protecting and Empowering People. Dr. Ginwala has sought to ensure that women were involved in conflict resolution and peace building, working with women in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Palestine and Israel.

After 30 years in exile, she returned to South Africa as a member of the African National Congress (ANC) Presidents Secretariat and its negotiating team. Following democratic elections she entered parliament and became the First Speaker of the National Assembly. Dr. Ginwala was among the first of its members and co-chairperson of the Organization of the African Union’s Conference of African Parliaments, which had drafted the Protocol of the Pan African Parliament. She was also a member of the African Union's Audit Panel.

Dr. Ginwala has dedicated her entire life to addressing democracy, governance, human rights and development. She has been an instrumental figure within her native South Africa, where she has served as the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Parliament from 1994 until 2004. Prior to being elected to the National Assembly, Dr. Ginwala was actively involved in the ANC where she formed the taskforce to establish a Women’s League. She has also served as the co-chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; the International Parliamentary Union and as a member of the United Nations Advisory Panel of High-Level Personalities on African Development to the UN Secretary-General.

Currently, Dr. Ginwala is a member of the Advisory Board on Corruption, which was established under the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.