Widad Akrawi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Widad Akreyi
ویداد ئاکرەیی |
|
|---|---|
Widad Akreyi addressing the UN, 2010
|
|
| Education | Genetics and inherited disease (M.A.); Global health and cancer epidemiology (PhD) |
| Known for | Advocate for human rights, peace and justice, author, Arms Trade Treaty, UN Declaration of Commitment to End ... in Conflict, UN Resolution 2117 |
| Awards |
|
Widad Akreyi is a health expert and a strong voice for human rights. She helped start an organization called Defend International. She has also written several books about health and human rights.
Widad Akreyi has a master's degree in genetics. She also has a PhD in global health and epidemiology, which is the study of how diseases spread. Her life was deeply affected by human rights problems in Iraq. These problems included attacks on the Kurds in 1974 and the Al-Anfal Campaign.
She has won many peace awards. One group called her an "outspoken peace activist." They also said she was the "first young woman from the Middle East" to work against the illegal trade of small weapons. She also speaks out against violence based on gender and works for international safety.
In 2013, Widad Akreyi received a "Special Prize." This award was for helping different cultures understand each other. In 2014, she won the International Pfeffer Peace Award. She gave this award to the people of Kobane and Sinjar. She also dedicated it to Christians in the Middle East who were being treated unfairly. In 2017, she received the Davenport mayor medal and the Pacem in Terris Award. These awards were for her dedication to human rights for everyone. In 2018, she won the International Simply Woman Harmony Award. This was for her lifelong work defending human rights. In 2020, she was chosen as a Woman of the Year.
Contents
About Widad Akreyi's Life
Widad Akreyi was born in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Her family was not religious. When she was young, members of the Baath Party tried to get her to join them. She refused, which caused her to be watched closely for a while.
In 1986, she moved to Erbil. There, she studied civil engineering at Salahaddin University. She focused on designing roads and bridges. In 1988, she secretly gathered information about torture and other human rights problems in Iraq. The next year, she became more involved in fighting for human rights. She also worked for peace, fairness, and good government. Her efforts to speak out against unfair power and violence put her and her family at risk. Her work became even more important after the Al-Anfal Campaign, which was also known as the Kurdish Genocide. Despite these hard times, she finished her degree in 1990.
After the first Gulf War in 1991, the Iraqi government took back control of the Kurdistan region. Widad Akreyi was then forced to leave her home country.
While living outside Iraq, she earned a master's degree in genetics. She also got a PhD in global health. She has worked as a clinical geneticist, studying diseases that people inherit.
Widad Akreyi helped create Defend International. This organization works to stop serious human rights violations. It also helps make sure that those who commit crimes are held responsible. Defend International also does medical research to improve health. It promotes peace and democracy through cultural connections and diplomacy.
Her Dedication to Human Rights
Widad Akreyi's strong interest in human rights began many years ago. She first spoke up for her classmates at school. As she grew up, she helped set up a secret group in Iraq. This group collected proof of torture and other human rights abuses. In 1987, she secretly interviewed victims and their families. She helped people understand the effects of torture on ordinary citizens. In 1990, she started working for gender equality and women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa. She co-founded a group for women in the region. They organized programs to help women take part in peace-building.
Continuing Her Activism
While living abroad, Widad Akreyi started campaigns and wrote articles. She also spoke in discussions about human rights and peace. In 2005, she was chosen as the most important blogger in the Middle East and North Africa region. She was called "Queen Blogger" for two years.
Her first work with Amnesty International was in 1994. She started as a volunteer. In 2006, Amnesty International thanked her for her help. They especially noted her good use of the internet to teach about human rights. In February 2006, she became an ambassador for Amnesty International's "Stop Torture" campaign. She was also elected to the leadership team of Amnesty International in April 2006.
In June 2006, Widad Akreyi helped lead a conference in Cairo about controlling weapons. She was part of a group that met with leaders in Egypt. In June 2007, she left Amnesty International and helped start Defend International. That same year, she was chosen to co-lead the Women's Working Group for the Middle East and North Africa.
Widad Akreyi has worked with important groups like the International Action Network on Small Arms. She has also launched campaigns to protect the rights of writers, activists, and children. She works against child and forced marriages. She also defends girls, women's rights defenders, students, and prisoners. She has over 20 years of experience in human rights. Her work includes gender equality, women's empowerment, and peace.
Pfeffer Peace Prize
The US Fellowship of Reconciliation announced her award in September 2014. She received it on October 13, 2014. Widad Akreyi dedicated the award to the 50 million refugees around the world. These are people who have had to leave their homes because of conflict or unfair treatment. She especially mentioned the Yazidis, Christians, and all people in the Kobanê region.
Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award
Widad Akreyi received the Pacem in Terris Award in 2017. This award honored her lifelong work for peace and fairness. She was recognized for helping people in the Middle East. She also helped reduce suffering and promote equal rights for everyone. She documented crimes against humanity, torture, and other human rights problems. The Quad-City Times newspaper said she "earned her place among the world's brightest brokers of peace."
Bishop Thomas Zinkula presented the award to Widad Akreyi on October 22, 2017. This happened at St. Ambrose University. After accepting the award, she gave a speech about what she had seen. Her words moved some people in the audience to tears. She told everyone that there are no easy answers to global problems. She said, "We must remember compassion is contagious. The more we spread it the more people will cherish it and share it."
The mayor of Davenport, Iowa also gave Widad Akreyi the Davenport medal.
International Simply Woman Harmony Award
On November 23, 2018, Widad Akreyi received the International Simply Woman Harmony Award in Italy. This award was for her fight against human rights violations and gender-based violence.
Her Work for Peace and Safety
Arms Trade Treaty
In 2005, Widad Akreyi started working for a strong Arms Trade Treaty at the UN. This treaty aims to stop the illegal trade of small weapons. These weapons can be used in terrible acts like genocide or terrorism.
Connecting with Arabic Speakers Online
Since 2005, she has used online discussions and blogging to connect with Arabic-speaking audiences. In 2006, Amnesty International praised her efforts. They said her online work helped their campaigns succeed.
In 2008, Widad Akreyi joined a global campaign. This campaign worked against celebratory gunfire during Eid.
Peace Initiatives
In June 2010, she spoke at a UN meeting in New York. The meeting was about stopping the illegal trade of small weapons. She talked about how important it is to invest in a "Culture of Peace." She worried that too many illegal weapons make conflicts worse and peace harder to achieve.
In March 2013, she welcomed a call for a ceasefire by a Kurdish leader. She urged Turkish leaders to take this chance for peace. She also asked countries in Scandinavia to help negotiate a peace deal in Turkey. After the 2015 Ankara bombings, she asked President Barack Obama to urge the Turkish Prime Minister to respect the victims. She also asked for a ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers' Party. She also asked Federica Mogherini to help end the violence between Turkey and the Kurds.
When the Syrian crisis began, she worked for a peaceful solution. In an interview in October 2013, she talked about the huge human cost of the crisis in Syria. She said the conflict affected regional safety. She called the crisis a "humanitarian tragedy." She urged the world to work for a peaceful end to the crisis.
Global Refugee Crisis
On World Refugee Day in 2013, she spoke about the important contributions of refugees. She also worried about the safety of all displaced people. She said, "Their challenges are many, but common for all refugees... is that they have either limited or no control over their own lives." She reminded everyone that the world must not forget refugees. She called on countries and aid groups to protect refugees' rights.
On September 4, 2015, Widad Akreyi organized moments of silence and prayer. This was to honor the victims of the global refugee crisis. People around the world remembered Alan Kurdi, his brother, and his mother. They also remembered thousands of children who died fleeing conflicts. Over 2,500 refugees died trying to cross the Mediterranean in summer 2015. During a beach memorial, Widad Akreyi offered comfort to the victims' families. She asked the world to share the responsibility of helping refugees. She thanked volunteers and aid workers for their efforts.
Toxic Remnants of War
In July 2014, Widad Akreyi joined a global effort. This group works to protect the environment during and after conflicts. She wrote that toxic waste from wars can cause health problems. These include birth defects, cancer, and problems with children's development. It can also harm human and animal reproduction.
Defending Victims of ISIL
In September 2014, Widad Akreyi started a campaign called "Save The Yazidis: The World Has To Act Now." This campaign aimed to raise awareness about the terrible situation of the Yazidis in Northern Iraq. She said, "The plight of the Yazidis is a humanitarian tragedy, and we want to make sure that the victims are not forgotten, protected legally, fully assisted and compensated fairly." She thanked countries that helped minorities during the Iraqi crisis. She asked the world to step in urgently.
In October 2014, she dedicated her International Pfeffer Peace Award to the Yazidis, Christians, and all people of Kobane. She said these peaceful people were not safe because of their background or religion. They needed immediate help from the world.
When a "price list" for Yazidi and Christian females was put out by ISIS in August 2015, Widad Akreyi and her team were the first to check if it was real. They also published a translation. A UN official later confirmed the document was genuine.
Executions
In 2014, she joined a global campaign. This campaign worked to stop the execution of young offenders. It also aimed to protect the rights of child domestic workers.
Her Roles and Memberships
- She is the first Kurd to win the International Pfeffer Peace Prize.
- She won the 2013 'Special Prize' for helping different cultures understand each other.
- She helped start Defend International.
- She represented Defend International at several United Nations meetings. These meetings focused on stopping the illegal trade of small weapons and on women's rights.
- She was an advisor for the Everywoman Everywhere Coalition at Harvard Kennedy School.
- She is a member of the board for the Women of Europe Award.
- She was a member of the leadership team for Amnesty International from 2006 to 2007.
- She was an ambassador for Amnesty International's Stop Torture campaign.
See also
- List of peace activists
- List of women's rights activists
- List of Iraqis
