Injecting Women’s Rights

Nawal Yazeji, a leading advocate for peace in Syria, will speak at the University this Tuesday.

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 27, 2017) — A leading figure in the Syrian peace movement is visiting UAlbany to give a behind-the-scenes peek into high-level peace talks with the world leaders working to end the unrest. Nawal Yazeji will share her insights into the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of representing women’s rights for the first time on such a stage.

Syria’s ongoing multi-sided armed conflict has caused a worldwide humanitarian crisis, with millions of Syrians fleeing the country in search of security. World leaders have long engaged in peace talks, but until Yazeji joined this political process women’s voices were not represented in these settings.

Yazeji, whose appointment as chair of the Women’s Advisory Board for the UN Office of the Special Envoy to Syria, will be the featured speaker at “A Seat at the Table: Representing Women’s Rights in the Syrian Peace Talks” this Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Room 354 of the Humanities Building. The event is sponsored by the Center for International Education and Global Strategy and is part of the Center’s larger “Global Forum” series. The School of Criminal Justice is co-sponsoring the event.

Yazeji will join Ilham AlMahamid, assistant professor of Public Health, and Victor Asal, associate professor of Political Science, in a discussion about the efforts to advocate for the interests of women in the long-running civil war, moderated by William Alex Pridemore, dean of the School of Criminal Justice.

“The Global Forum series provides an opportunity for the UAlbany community to engage with pressing global issues and hear from leading and respected national and international figures,” said Harvey Charles, dean for International Education and vice provost for Global Strategy.

“This event will provide the UAlbany community with an opportunity to better understand the issues in this global crisis and recognize that even in one of the world’s most intractable conflicts, that there can still be brave and visionary efforts to advocate for justice and equality.”

Yazeji will answer questions from the audience. Dr. William Pridemore, Dean of the School of Criminal Justice, will moderate.

“Nawal Yazeji has lived an extraordinary and singular life. For decades she has been a steady voice for justice and peace in Syria, and now she is leading the charge representing women’s rights in the ongoing Syrian peace negotiations,” Pridemore said. “Nawal is living proof of what can be achieved on behalf of others when one has the courage to stand up for one’s convictions.

“The UAlbany community is lucky to have her visit and to describe some of her remarkable experiences.”

The event is free, open to the UAlbany community and pre-registration is not required.

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