Democracy, Politics

3 Female Human Rights Activists You Should Know – and Follow on Twitter!

by Michael Sharnoff, Founder and Editor of Sharnoff's Global Views
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International female voices speaking up for equality, justice and human rights.

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For a society to be truly free, women must enjoy equal rights with men. All nations have at times experienced struggles implementing legislation on women’s rights – whether with female suffrage or fair treatment in the workplace.

How well are women treated in your country? Do they enjoy equality with men and have the opportunity to fully participate in civic society, occupy positions of power and have the right to speak freely without fear of persecution?

Take a look at the following list of international female democracy activists who use their voice and social media to raise awareness and advocate a brighter future for all.

1. Somaly Mam

Bio: Born into a tribal minority family in Cambodia and sold at a young age, Somaly Mam is a survivor of sex slavery and a leader in the fight to end it. She is the founder of The Somaly Mam Foundation and committed to building a world in which women and children are free from slavery.

Tweets about: Female trafficking, child slavery.

2. Imen Yacoubi

Bio: a Professor of English and an academic researcher teaching English literature at the University of Jendouba, Tunisia, Imen is a member of the Young Arab Analyst Network International and co-founder and editor-in-chief of Moorings, a cultural Maghrebi magazine in English. She is an alumnus of the Civic Engagement and Leadership Fellowship, a program accommodated by Syracuse University, NY. Imen is author and contributor for HumanRightsTV.com and MideastYouth.com.

Tweets about: women’s rights, reform in Tunisia, Middle East politics. 

3. Alaa Murabit

Bio: Alaa Murabit is founder and president of a women’s empowerment organization based in Zawia, Libya called “The Voice of Libyan Women.” She is the winner of the 2013 Trust Women Hero Award for her outstanding work on women’s rights in Libya.

See also  Refugees and the Arab Spring in Jordan

Tweets about: Reform in Libya, women’s rights.

Honorable mentions not on Twitter

Sima Samar

Sima Samar, Chairwoman, Afghanistan Independent Rights Commission.

Bio: A renowned advocate of human and women’s rights, Dr. Samar was appointed as the inaugural chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) in June 2002. From 2001-2003, she served as the deputy chair and Minister of Women’s Affairs in the post-Taliban Interim Administration of Afghanistan IAA. Dr. Samar also served as UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Sudan between 2005 and 2009. She has participated in many international forums on human rights, democracy, and transitional justice. Her contributions to the same have been widely recognized and she is the recipient of several prestigious awards.

Khalida Ghaus

Khalida Ghaus, Managing Director of Social Policy and Development Centre in Karachi.

Bio: Khalida Ghaus hold a Ph.D. in International Relations and is the former Director of the Centre of Excellence for Women Studies; Chairperson in the Department of International Relations, University of Karachi, and Pakistan Centre for Democracy Studies. She is currently serving as the Managing Director of Social Policy and Development Centre in Karachi.

Shashi Tyagi

Shashi Tyagi, co-founder of GRAVIS.

Bio: Shashi Tyagi is the co-founder of GRAVIS, a non-governmental organization founded to promote self-reliance and to improve the social, economic and political situation of desert communities in Rajasthan, India.

What did you think of this list? Who are some of your must-follow female human rights activists on Twitter? Leave a comment below and connect with us on Twitter at @sgviews and on Facebook at facebook.com/SharnoffsGlobalViews.

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