Herspectives

_{Image from the Global Survivors Fund}

An Iraqi human rights activist, Nadia Murad demonstrates exactly what it means to be an influential woman through her outspokenness about her own experiences with sexual violence and continuous advocacy against human trafficking.

The Yazīdīs of Iraq, found largely in the Sinjār Mountains, have long been a persecuted ethno-religious group. During an attempted ethnic cleansing campaign, Murad, a Yazīdī, was captured by ISIS in 2014 and sold into sex slavery. Her brothers and mother were massacred, along with the rest of her village. In total, 5,000 men were killed by ISIS and 5,200 women were trafficked, illustrating the severity of the violence against this minority group.

Murad managed to escape captivity, and she fled to Germany in 2015 under a refugee program. But after what she had experienced, she knew there were still countless victims who needed a voice. Murad drew attention to the human rights atrocities committed by ISIS and the Yazīdī genocide by testifying to the UN Security Council that December. She was appointed the UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking in 2016, and wrote The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State, her New York Times bestselling memoir. In addition to being a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, she also serves on France’s Gender Advisory Council and co-founded the Global Survivors Fund.

Murad’s accolades are a testament to her courage and resilience as well as the tangible impact she has had on the world. Her ability to surmount unspeakable trauma and become an advocate for her community exemplifies the grit and tenacity of a powerful female leader. This brief overview is meant for you to familiarize yourself with this inspiring woman, but I encourage you to delve deeper into her accomplishments and influence. Murad’s herspective is truly one worth showcasing for our very first Woman of the Month!

Information from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nadia-Murad and https://www.nadiasinitiative.org/nadia-murad