Two African women, Ilwad Elman and Hajer Sharief have made the list for winning the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Award.
Somalia’s social rights activist, Ilwad Elman and Libyan law student, Hajer Sharief have been nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize award. According to the Nobel Prize organization, the award which was first given in 1901 is given in honor of any person who has done the most or best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses .
These women are also on the short list for the Director for the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
Ilwad Elman, 29, and Hajer Sharief have done important work in peace building in both of their countries. They are also both part of the Extremely Together initiative, by former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.
Ilwad Elman was born in Mogadishu to parents who were also peace activists, Fartuun Adan and Elman Ali Ahmed. In the early 90’s, Elman’s mother left with her and her sisters. She eventually received asylum in Canada. Ilwad Elman was assasinated for assisting in rehabilitation of youths affected by war.
Elman soon returned to Mogadishu in 2010, and since then, she has led social programs with her focus on women’s rights in Somalia. She also founded Somalia’s first rape crisis center for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
Hajer Sharief has been active in the fight for peace in Libya. This started in 2011, after she witnessed the horrific events of war. Then 19, she started Together We Build It, an organization aimed at supporting a peaceful democratic transition.
In 2013, Sharief co-started the 1325 Network project. This project involved organizations and activists across 30 cities in Libya working together to raise awareness for women’s role in building safe societies.
The 2019 Nobel Peace Prize award will be given on the 10th December in Oslo, Norway. View the full list of the 301 candidates here.
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