Shreen Abdul Saroor facts for kids

Shreen Abdul Saroor (born 1969) is a brave activist from Sri Lanka. She works for peace and to protect the rights of women. When she was young, her family, who are part of the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka, had to leave their home in Mannar. This happened in 1990 because of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan Civil War. This difficult experience made her want to help others and work for a better world.

Working for Women's Rights

After seeing the difficulties of the war, Shreen decided to help her community. In 1999, she started a group called the Mannar Women's Development Federation. This group helps women become stronger and more independent. It works to give women a voice and help them improve their lives.

Recognition for Her Work

Many people have recognized Shreen for her important work. In 2004, she was featured in a film called Leading the Way to Peace, Women Peacemakers. This film showed how women like Shreen are helping to build peace.

In 2008, she received the Voices of Courage award. This award came from the International Rescue Committee's Women's Refugee Commission. It honored her efforts to help women who had to leave their homes because of conflict.

She also won the N-Peace Award in 2011. This award celebrates people who work for peace in Asia. In 2017, Shreen received the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law. This prize recognized her dedication to human rights. The same year, she became an Ashoka Fellow, joining a group of leading social innovators.

Working Together for Change

Shreen works to bring women's groups in Sri Lanka together. She helps lead an organization called the Women's Action Network (WAN). This group acts as a big team for women's movements across the country.

Shreen is also a writer. She shares her ideas and experiences by writing for publications like the Colombo Telegraph. Through her writing, she continues to speak up for peace and women's rights.