Patron 2020: Nadia Murad
We are honoured to have human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad as patron for this special edition. Nadia Murad, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador, is a leading advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence. Nadia’s peaceful life was brutally disrupted in 2014 when ISIS attacked her homeland in Sinjar to ethnically cleanse Iraq of all Yazidis. Since Nadia's escape from ISIS captivity, she has shared her story to raise awareness of ISIS and its genocidal campaign against the Yazidi people. She has become a powerful advocate for women in conflict settings and survivors of sexual violence worldwide.
During the opening of the 2020 Festival, Nadia Murad gave a moving speech in which she called for us to show solidarity with the thousands of women around the world who have experienced and continue to experience sexual violence on a daily basis, and to join them in holding those responsible accountable.
