2009 International Peace Award
Recipient: Halima Bashir

Activist for Women and Children of Darfur

Dr. Halima Bashir, 29, was a medical doctor in Darfur who provided care for soldiers and civilians on both sides of the conflict in her country. She treated and tried to console schoolchildren who had been repeatedly raped. When she spoke out against this abuse she was abducted and gang-raped for three days. She saw her village destroyed and her father murdered by the Janjaweed. With the Sudanese government seeking to kill her, she fled the country. Halima has continued to speak out for women and children in Darfur. She is the second Muslim and the eighth woman to receive this award since its beginning in 1993.

In an interview with Peace Colloquy co-director Andrew Bolton, Halima talked about:

Memories of a happy childhood
Consequences for reporting the rape of young girls
The importance of speaking out

Read more about Halima’s life. 

Halima will be presented the award at the opening of the 2009 Peace Colloquy. Join us October 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, or via webcast.