As part of the York International Women's Week, women human rights defenders currently based at the Centre for Applied Human Rights, University of York, will discuss their experiences in human rights work and talk about the challenges they face when defending women's rights. The panel discussion will be followed by a Q & A session giving the audience a chance to hear straight from women working on the front line in a range of environments. The panelists include Samira Hamidi (Afghanistan), Karak Denyok Miakol (South Sudan), Kaltun Sh. Hassan (Somaliland) and Lineo Tsikoane (Lesotho).
Creative installations on the women's human rights work will also be presented, including works by El (Iran), Varnetta Johnson (Liberia), Dina Meza (Honduras) and Nolwandle Simunyu (Zimbabwe).
The event is open to all.
Panelists:
Samira Hamidi was the Country Director of the Afghan Women’s Network (AWN). Samira was instrumental in catalysing women’s engagement in advocacy across the country, bringing together thousands of voices from individuals and women’s organizations. Before joining AWN, Samira worked with the United Nations Development Programme in Afghanistan. Samira is currently studying for an LLM in International Human Rights Law and Practice at CAHR.
Karak Denyok Miakol is a social worker by profession and the founder of Diar for Rehabilitation and Development Association (DRDA), a local women's empowerment organisation based in Juba, South Sudan. She is also the founder of Women for Rehabilitation and Development International Foundation (WRDIF) and the former Country Director for Women for Women International Sudan. In 2004 she won the prestigious Van Heuven Goedhart International Award. Karak is currently a Protective Fellow at CAHR.
Kaltun Sh. Hassan is the human rights officer of the Women's Action for Advocacy and Progress Organization (WAAPO). WAAPO works on improving the social, legal and political status of women in Somaliland. Kaltun is also the chairperson of Nagaad Network, a women’s organisation network in Somaliland; the focal point of G16 human rights defenders network in Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland; the Somaliland focal point of the Strategic Inititive for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA). Kaltun is currently a Protective Fellow at CAHR.
Lineo Tsikoane is a human rights defender in the Kingdom of Lesotho. She started serving Lesotho as a 15-year-old child representative of the country. She has represented the children of Lesotho, the SADC region and Africa at various forums including the first United Nations Special Session on Children. Post qualification as a lawyer Lineo served as the youngest Executive Director of Lesotho's NGO coalition on the rights of the child and advocated for Lesotho's most comprehensive Child Protection and Welfare Act. Lineo addresses issues of women and girls empowerment, youth development and economic justice. Lineo is an admitted advocate of the high Court of Lesotho. She is currently completing an LLM in International Human Rights Law and Practice at CAHR.
