Each of us has faced a moment in our lives where we felt our rights were being neglected and we could exercise the power of our human rights. Indigenous rights activists are individuals who work alone or with an organization or group to fight for the truth and common welfare of all. Often, these individuals belong to locations that are captured by other countries. Their mission and vision emphasize a focus on all fundamental human rights, which are an integral part of a country’s history and culture. These activists empower communities through their work and create revolutionary societal events.
Nadia Murad
Nadia Murad is an Iraqi human rights activist, belonging to the Yazidi community. She fights against issues like sexual violence and human trafficking. She has won several accolades and recognitions; she is a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and UNODC Goodwill Ambassador. She has faced several challenges in her life due to raising her voice against injustice. Her mother and siblings were killed, and she was forced into slavery and sexual exploitation along with other Yazidi women and girls. After escaping, she raised her voice on issues like sexual slavery.
Alexya Salvador
Alexya is a transgender activist from Brazil. She is an advocate for LGBTQ+ community rights. She is the first transwoman who is a member of the clergy. She is also a pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church. In addition to this, she raises her voice for issues like family adoption and human education rights. She is also the vice president at Brazilian Association of the Homotrans-Affective Families.
Raif bin Muhammed Badawi
Raif is an activist from Saudi Arabia. He is also a writer and has created a website, named Free Saudi Liberals. He speaks for basic human rights and the freedom of his community. He has received a lot of opposition and backlash for hurting people’s religious sentiments. During his reign, he was sentenced to 1000 lashes and was imprisoned.
Tran Minh Nhat
Tran is a journalist and activist from Vietnam. He belongs to the Lam Dong province of Vietnam, and is an advocate of social, economic, religious, and cultural rights. He worked at Vietnam Redemptorist News, which aided him in raising awareness about the exploitation of human rights.
Michelle Bachelet
Michelle is Chile’s first female president; she is also a physician. She is a member of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She fought against the military dictatorship in Chile. Her aim was to provide basic human rights to the public, which they could exercise with the utmost freedom.
Nancy Herz
Nancy is a Lebanese activist and author who has been associated with Amnesty International since 2011. In 2016, her article “We are the shameless Arab women, and our time starts now” was published and gained immense attention. She started the #shameless movement in Norway, which emphasized on the word “shameless” was commonly used to devalue Arab girls and women. She often raises her voice on issues such as women’s empowerment, racism, and equal freedom. She has won several awards, including the Freedom of Expression Tribute award.
Befaqadu Hailu
Befaqadu is an author and activist from Ethiopia. He is the founder of the blog named “Zone 9” with his partner. The blog sheds light on the violation and exploitation of human rights in Ethiopia. During his reign, he was sentenced to prison four times. He has won several awards and accolades, such as the International Press Freedom Award and the International Writer of Courage Award at the PEN Pinter Prize Ceremony.
Greta Thunberg
Greta is one of the most well-known and prominent activists across the globe. She speaks about the climate crisis and ways through which its detrimental effects can be reduced. She has received Amnesty International’s top human rights award and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
Malala Yousafzai
Malala is a well-known activist from Pakistan. She is also an author and shares her thoughts on human rights in her blog. When the Taliban attacked her in Pakistan, she shot to fame. She promotes the right to education for all, especially for girls and women. She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 and is the co-founder of the Malala Fund.
John Lewis
John Lewis is an activist and politician based in the US. He was one of the prominent leaders in the March of Washington that took place in 1963. He has received several accolades for his work and is an avid supporter of human and public welfare rights. He was also extensively involved in peaceful and nonviolent protests and boycotts during his period.
Conclusion
These are a few of the indigenous rights activists’ works, which have been highlighted in this article. Interestingly, there are several activists across the globe raising their voice and fighting against the injustice of basic human rights, land rights, and other important rights.
Images / Visual Mediums
Image Name : Activists fighting for human rights
Image Number : 1
URL : https://impakter.com/indigenous-peoples-part-two/
Image Name : People fighting for the recognition of indigenous human rights
Image Number : 2
URL : https://www.teenvogue.com/story/10-native-activism-organizations-to-support-this-thanksgiving
Image Name : Nadia Murad
Image Number : 3
URL : https://www.abouther.com/node/14656/people/leading-ladies/nadia-murad-uses-her-story-best-weapon-help-other-women
Image Name : Alexya Salvador
Image Number : 4
URL : https://catracalivre.com.br/cidadania/minha-vida-e-dos-meus-filhos-pastora-trans-fala-sobre-ser-mae/
Image Name : Raif bin Muhammed Badawi
Image Number : 5
URL : https://www.dw.com/en/blogger-raif-badawis-long-struggle-for-freedom-of-expression/a-18226878
Image Name : Tran Minh Nhat
Image Number : 6
URL : https://www.englishpen.org/posts/news/vietnam-tran-minh-nhat-faces-ongoing-harassment/
Image Name : Michelle Bachelet
Image Number : 7
URL : https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1064552
Image Name : Nancy Herz_
Image Number : 8
URL : https://share.america.gov/meet-10-amazing-young-people-and-be-inspired/
Image Name : Befaqadu Hailu
Image Number : 9
URL : https://www.amnesty.de/informieren/amnesty-journal/aethiopien-meinungsfreiheit-pressefreiheit-blogger-befeqadu-techane
Image Name : Greta Thunberg
Image Number : 10
URL : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/11/greta-thunberg-schoolgirl-climate-change-warrior-some-people-can-let-things-go-i-cant
Image Name : Malala Yousafzai
Image Number : 11
URL : https://www.arabnews.com/node/2172566/lifestyle
Image Name : John Lewis
Image Number : 12
URL : https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/17/politics/john-lewis-dead-at-80/index.html
Image Name : People raising their voice for justice
Image Number : 13
URL : https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/frontline-insights/13-insights-front-lines-human-rights-activism/
Citations
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Yulia Nesterova – Research Fellow, U.of G. (2017) Indigenous peoples: Key trends that affect their development, Impakter. Available at: https://impakter.com/indigenous-peoples-part-two/ (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Mattingly, D. (2019) 13 insights from the front lines of Human Rights Activism, openDemocracy. Available at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/frontline-insights/13-insights-front-lines-human-rights-activism/ (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Nadia Murad uses her story as the best weapon to help other women (2018) About Her. Available at: https://www.abouther.com/node/14656/people/leading-ladies/nadia-murad-uses-her-story-best-weapon-help-other-women (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Soken-Huberty, E. (2020) 10 human rights activists fighting for change, Human Rights Careers. Available at: https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/human-rights-activists/ (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Carvalho, J. (2020) ‘minha vida É dos meus filhos’: Pastora trans Fala sobre ser Mãe, Catraca Livre. Available at: https://catracalivre.com.br/cidadania/minha-vida-e-dos-meus-filhos-pastora-trans-fala-sobre-ser-mae/ (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Deutsche Welle (2015) Raif Badawi, blogger and liberal – DW – 01/30/2015, dw.com. Deutsche Welle. Available at: https://www.dw.com/en/blogger-raif-badawis-long-struggle-for-freedom-of-expression/a-18226878 (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Vietnam: Tran Minh Nhat faces ongoing harassment (2020) English Pen. Available at: https://www.englishpen.org/posts/news/vietnam-tran-minh-nhat-faces-ongoing-harassment/ (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Just hoping coronavirus will bypass Africa, would be a deadly mistake: Bachelet | UN News (no date) United Nations. United Nations. Available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/05/1064552 (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Brukbacher, S.L. (2018) Meet 10 amazing young people … and be inspired, ShareAmerica. Available at: https://share.america.gov/meet-10-amazing-young-people-and-be-inspired/ (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
“Der internationale fokus hat sich verschoben” (1970) Startseite. Available at: https://www.amnesty.de/informieren/amnesty-journal/aethiopien-meinungsfreiheit-pressefreiheit-blogger-befeqadu-techane (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Greta Thunberg, Schoolgirl climate change warrior: ‘some people can let things go. I can’t’ (2019) The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/11/greta-thunberg-schoolgirl-climate-change-warrior-some-people-can-let-things-go-i-cant (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Arab News (2022) Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai questions lack of Muslim representation in Hollywood, Arab News. Available at: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2172566/lifestyle (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Malveaux, S. et al. (2020) Civil rights legend rep. John Lewis dead at 80 | CNN politics, CNN. Cable News Network. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/17/politics/john-lewis-dead-at-80/index.html (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
Mattingly, D. (2019) 13 insights from the front lines of Human Rights Activism, openDemocracy. Available at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/frontline-insights/13-insights-front-lines-human-rights-activism/ (Accessed: November 29, 2022).
