Biography

Alaa Murabit is a physician and one of the Global Sustainable Development Goals Advocates appointed by the UN Secretary General and a UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth. At the age of 15, Murabit completed high school and moved from Saskatoon, Canada to Zawia, Libya. It was there that she enrolled in medical school and founded the group Voice of Libyan Women at the age of 21. With a strong focus on challenging societal and cultural norms and utilizing traditional and historical role models, Murabit champions women’s participation in peace processes and conflict mediation. Her programs, such as the groundbreaking “Noor Campaign,” are replicated internationally. Praised for her innovative approach to security issues, Murabit acts as an advisor to numerous international security boards, think tanks, and organizations, including the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 Global Advisory Board, UN Women Global Advisory Board, and the US-based Council on Foreign Relations.

Murabit is an Ashoka fellow and a founding coalition member of Harvard University’s Everywoman, Everywhere initiative. She is also the youngest recipient of Italy’s Marisa Bellisario International Humanitarian Award, and was named the “International Trust Women Hero 2014” by The New York Times, “One of 25 women under 25 to watch” by Newsweek, a “100 Top Woman” by the BBC, and the SAFE Global Hero. Murabit addressed the UN Security Council during the 15th anniversary of Resolution 1325, as well as the UN General Assembly during the Commission on the Status of Women opening session, and the high-level debate on human rights.