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The life journey of Nada Al-Ahdal

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My name is Nada Al-Ahdal. I was born on 2 February 2002, and I am a human rights activist from Yemen. I am known for escaping two child marriages that my parents had arranged for me.

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The video

In 2013, I posted a video on YouTube speaking out against child marriage. In it, I told my story and my experience of being forced into marriage contracts. The video quickly went viral and drew attention to the continued practice of child marriage in Yemen.

After that first video rallied the international media against child marriage, I was able to influence Yemen's National Dialogue Conference to pass and apply a law criminalising the marriage of children under 18.

What I have achieved

These are some of the main achievements of my awareness campaign so far:

  • I am the head of Nada Foundation for the protection of children's rights, which I founded with the support of people who believe in my cause.
  • My book has been published in French and Dutch, and is being printed in 7 other languages to raise awareness around the world.
  • MBC1 has made and launched a documentary about my story and the stages of my life since the attempted marriage.
  • I took part in the film "I Am Nojoom, Age 10 and Divorced".
  • I helped 400 girls learn English through the Our Dreams Thrive programme.
  • Through my Safe Havens programme, I raised awareness among 60 Yemeni girls and saved them from child marriage.
  • I provided 8 scholarships for girls in local schools.
  • I told my story at TEDxMuscatWomen, part of the TEDx platform.
  • I use social media and appear on well-known television channels to spread awareness as widely as possible, with the hashtag "Peace through education".
  • I have taken part in conferences around the world, including in Kuwait, Turkey, the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • A programme of my own on MBC1 has been proposed.

My commitment

Looking at these achievements, at my age and at what I have been through, it is clear that I am willing to dedicate my life to ending child marriage.

Full name: Nada Esmail Saleh Hashem Al-Ahdal. Activity: children's rights activist.

Source: YouTube