First Arab woman Nobel laureate to speak at Rotary 2025 Convention

Transcript :

Tawakkol Karman, the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, will speak at Rotary International’s 2025 convention in Calgary, Canada.

A journalist and human rights activist, Karman has long fought for democracy and women’s empowerment in Yemen, enduring persecution and imprisonment for her activism.

From 2007 to 2011, she organized protests against President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s regime, earning the nicknames “mother of the revolution” and “the iron woman.”

She founded Women Journalists Without Chains to support press freedom and promote women’s rights.

During the Arab Spring, Karman called for peaceful dialogue and worked toward unity between Sunni and Shia Muslims.

She believes Islam supports full participation of women in society and peaceful coexistence with other religions.

Recognized globally, she was named one of Time’s 100 Women of the Year in 2011 and listed among Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers.

Her foundation builds schools and supports healthcare and poverty relief in Yemen.