Nour

Libya, Autumn 2025

Growing up amid the Gaddafi regime and the revolution that followed, I witnessed the systematic silencing and marginalisation of Libya’s Amazigh and other Indigenous communities. Experiencing these injustices from an early age shaped my understanding of power, identity, and belonging, and laid the foundation for my  engagement with human rights and civic activism. These early encounters with exclusion continue to inform my commitment to resistance, accountability, and justice in a country still struggling to reconcile with its fractured social fabric.

I am a Tamazight feminist and human rights advocate from Libya’s western mountain region, with over five years of experience working at the intersection of Indigenous rights, gender justice, and grassroots civic activism. Drawing on my background in political science, my work focuses on challenging structural discrimination and advancing inclusive participation in Libya’s public and political life, particularly for Indigenous women and other marginalised groups.

Operating within the deeply fragmented political and social landscape of contemporary Libya, my work explores how conflict, impunity, and competing power structures perpetuate exclusion and undermine accountability. This context not only informs my professional focus but also shapes my identity as an Indigenous woman navigating the intersections of culture, politics, and advocacy in a state marked by ongoing instability.

Since 2019, I have led and contributed to a range of community-based and participatory initiatives centred on youth leadership, women’s empowerment, and the protection of cultural rights. Through these efforts, I have mobilised local voices and fostered inclusive dialogue on identity, justice, and belonging, examining how cultural relativism, social norms, and governance frameworks influence access to rights and participation in public life.

I currently serve as a Communications and Outreach Officer at Libya Crimes Watch (LCW), where I focus on accountability, documentation, and the monitoring of human rights violations. My work contributes to evidence-based advocacy and promotes adherence to international human rights and humanitarian legal frameworks, centring the perspectives of affected communities and defenders at risk.

My current research and advocacy examine how law, religion, and culture are instrumentalised to restrict civic space and criminalise dissent, while advancing intersectional and community-driven approaches to protection and accountability.