Alaa Murabit

Alaa Murabit is a physician, an international advocate for inclusive peace processes, a UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth, and one of 17 UN-appointed Global Sustainable Development Goal Advocates. Born in 1989 to Muslim parents in Saskatoon, Murabit grew up with her 10 siblings in a household where girls and boys were treated equally, an example she carried into her personal and professional life. At 15, after finishing high school in Canada, Murabit moved with her part of her family to Zawia, Libya, where she enrolled in medical school. At 21, she founded The Voice of Libyan Women to promote women’s leadership and challenge cultural and societal norms. Murabit has earned numerous degrees and distinctions, including a “Forbes 30 under 30”, a Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award and both Ashoka and MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellowships. She is recognized worldwide for her leadership on a wide range of issues, including women’s rights, global health policy, education, international security and sustainable development.

“Every day I work to amplify the voices of women – to highlight their experiences and their participation in peace processes and conflict resolution. And because of my work, I recognize that the only way to ensure the full participation of women globally is by reclaiming religion.”