TIME chooses Radhya Almutawakel in its list of 2019
Sana’a- Wednesday, April 24, 2019
The Time magazine chose Radhya Almutawakel, chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for 2019. The magazine released its announcement in the evening of April 17, 2019.
Radhya has been chosen for her efforts through Mwatana, and this event coincides with the sixth anniversary of its official registration on April 23, 2013. Mwatana is an independent Yemeni organization involved in defending human rights. Mwatana started in 2007, but the former regime of President Ali Abdullah Saleh declined to provide the organization with the permit even after re-submitting the request for several years. With the 2011 uprising that ended Saleh’s regime, Mwatana was able to obtain the necessary permit on April 23, 2013.
Radhya has successfully spotlighted the suffering of the Yemenis during her advocacy visits to Europe and the United States. In addition, she had testified before the US Congress in March 2018.
“Radhya and her colleagues face risks every day to uncover the human costs of war. For leading this work, Radhya Almutawakel deserves recognition as one of the truly courageous among us.” Senator Bernie Sanders.
Previously, Radhya was honoured in several international and human rights forums. The Arab Network for Human Rights Information and the Gulf Centre chose Radhya as a Defender of Expression Freedom and Human Rights earlier in 2017. Alongside Abdulrasheed Alfaqih, the executive, Radhya was awarded “Global Advocate Award” by Columbia Law School in 2017.
Moreover, Mwatana was awarded the International Hrant Dink award in Turkey in 2018 and awarded the Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty from Human Rights First in the same year.
