30 UNDER 30

17. Nadia Murad

Age: 29
Occupation: President of Nadia's Initiative
Nationality: Iraqi
Residence: Iraq
Category: Impact

A human rights activist and recipient of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, Nadia Murad is a leading advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence. ISIS attacked her homeland in Sinjar in 2014. After escaping captivity, Nadia began speaking out on behalf of her community and survivors of sexual violence worldwide. In 2016, she became a UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity of Survivors of Human Trafficking. In 2018, she won the Nobel Peace Prize with Denis Mukwege. Together, they founded the Global Survivors Fund. In 2019, Nadia was appointed as a UN Sustainable Development Goals Advocate. Nadia’s Initiative works to persuade governments and international organizations to support the sustainable re-development of the Yazidi homeland, as well as survivors of sexual violence globally.