Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman speaks at University of Winchester

19 Feb 2018
Head and shoulders of woman wearing patterned hijab

Yemeni journalist and politician Tawakkol Karman shares her experiences as a human rights activist in a public talk at the University of Winchester on Friday 2 March.

Tawakkol Karman was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her unwavering defence of democracy and justice in Yemen, and for giving women a role in the peacebuilding process. In 2005, Tawakkol Karman co-founded the group Women Journalists Without Chains, in order to promote freedom of expression and democratic rights. From 2007 to 2010, she regularly led demonstrations and sit-ins in Tahrir Square, Sana’a (Yemen). Tawakkol was the first Arab woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize and she is known as the “mother of the revolution” and "the lady of the Arab spring."

The talk is organised by the University of Winchester Centre for Religion, Reconciliation and Peace in partnership with Peacejam and Wessex Rotary.

Rebecca Bellamy, Centre Coordinator and Partnerships Officer at the Winchester Centre of Religion, Reconciliation and Peace, said: “Tawakkol Karman has given platforms to issues effecting some of the most vulnerable in Yemeni society, promoting their civil rights and challenging corruption. The University of Winchester is committed to working globally to ensure equality and justice for all and therefore wholeheartedly welcomes Tawakkol Karman to share her experiences and be an inspiration to our University community as well as the 200 children that will be visiting to participate in the Peace Jam conference over the weekend.”

Following her public lecture, Tawakkol Karman will present at the Annual PeaceJam Conference on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 March. The event welcomes young people aged 14-18, their teacher and youth workers to explore how they can take meaningful action for social change. The conference, which is hosted by the University of Winchester, will feature a talk and Q&A with Tawakkol Karman.

The event will start at 5pm with a drinks reception, with the talk starting at 5.30pm on Friday 2 March in The Stripe, University of Winchester, Sparkford Road, Winchester. The talk will be followed by a three-course Welcome Dinner at 7pm, which costs £19.99 +VAT to attend. Find out more at https://winchester.ac.uk/karman

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