Tawakkol Karman

Tawakkol Karman, a Yemeni journalist and human rights activist, has a distinguished history in advocating for press freedom and democratic rights. In 2005, she co-founded and led Women Journalists Without Chains, an organization known for its dedication to press freedom and human rights. Karman came into international prominence during the 2011 Yemeni uprising, part of the Arab Spring movement, where she served as a vocal opponent of President Ali Abdullah Saleh's regime. Continuing her advocacy from her home in Istanbul, she speaks against injustices in Yemen, including the war by the Saudi-UAE-led coalition and U.S. drone attacks.

Her efforts do not stop at her home country; Karman has also been involved on an international scale. In 2012, she participated as a panelist in the annual Clinton Global Initiative session, and in 2019, she was recognized as the Social Entrepreneur of the Year at The Asian Awards. Karman maintains strategic ties with American and European organizations and officials focused on human rights. She uses these platforms to advocate for broader issues, such as calling for a treaty to end violence against women in support of the Every Woman Coalition, and speaking against the genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

Perhaps her most notable achievement is being a co-recipient of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize for her non-violent struggle for women's safety and rights in peace-building work. This award made Karman the first Yemeni, the first Arab woman, and the second Muslim woman to win a Nobel Prize. Despite the risks, she continues to write and speak about the ongoing issues in Yemen, including articles in The Guardian and The New York Times.