Dr. Nagham Nawzat Hasan Iraqi Gynecologist, Yazidi Activist, and International Women of Courage Awardee

Dr. Nagham Nawzat Hasan Iraqi Gynecologist, Yazidi Activist, and International Women of Courage Awardee

Dr. Nagham Nawzat Hasan  was born in Bashiqa, Iraq, around 1978. She belongs to the Yazidi minority community, which profoundly shaped her later humanitarian focus. Driven by a desire to help women in her community, she pursued a career in medicine. Her medical training took place in Mosul, where she specialized in obstetrics and gynecology. This specialization, combined with her cultural background, enabled her to establish deep trust with female patients and address sensitive health issues.

Career and Achievements

Dr. Hasan initially began her professional career as a practicing gynecologist. However, her life and work shifted dramatically following the 2014 attack by ISIS (Islamic State) on the Sinjar region and the Yazidi community.

• Frontline Medical Response: Following the genocide, she was among the first doctors to volunteer, visiting internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the Dohuk region of Iraqi Kurdistan. She provided crucial medical care, counseling, and psychosocial support to Yazidi women and girls who had escaped captivity, many of whom were victims of systematic sexual violence and torture.

• Advocacy and Documentation: Dr. Hasan became a tireless advocate for the survivors, documenting their harrowing experiences. She uses a notebook to transcribe these stories, which serves both as a therapeutic ritual for herself and as a vital testimony to the atrocities committed, urging the international community for official recognition of the genocide.

• Establishment of Support: She co-founded the non-governmental organization "Hope Makers for Women", which works to provide sustained psychosocial and medical support to survivors as they attempt to rebuild their lives.

Research and Contributions

While Dr. Hasan's primary focus is clinical practice and human rights defense, her work has a significant public health and academic contribution:

• Psychosocial Epidemiology: Her documentation of over a thousand survivors' accounts provides invaluable, primary data on the psychological and gynecological consequences of conflict-related sexual violence. This material is vital for researchers and policymakers studying trauma, post-conflict recovery, and the long-term health needs of genocide survivors.

• Promoting Public Health: Her continuous presence in the camps and her advocacy promote essential public health principles, including mental health awareness and the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

• Iraqi Medical Recognition: Her dedicated work, though focused on activism, exemplifies the commitment of Iraqi medical professionals, much like the commitment shown by figures such as orthopedic surgeon Munjed Al-Muderis, in addressing critical health needs both at home and abroad.

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Hasan’s courageous work has earned her high international acclaim:

• International Women of Courage Award (2016): Awarded by the U.S. State Department, this prestigious honor recognized her efforts in promoting gender equality, combating gender-based violence, and providing essential services to survivors.

• SOLIDAR Silver Rose Award (2014/2016): She received this human rights award from the European Solidar organization.

• UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award (2022): She was chosen as the regional winner for the Middle East and North Africa for her work helping forcibly displaced or stateless people.

• Franco–German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law: Another recognition for her dedication to human rights.

Humanitarian Work and Social Impact

Dr. Nagham Nawzat Hasan is a powerful symbol of resilience for the Yazidi community. She uses her identity as both a doctor and a Yazidi woman to build trust and empower survivors. Her impact extends far beyond clinical treatment:

• Holistic Healing: She focuses on healing both the physical and emotional wounds of survivors, often providing psychosocial support alongside medical care.

• Moral Testimony: Her commitment to recording the testimonies of survivors serves as a moral duty to preserve the memory of the genocide and push for justice.

• Choosing to Stay: Despite opportunities to leave Iraq, Dr. Hasan made a categorical decision to remain and continue her work, believing the survivors still need her help.

FAQs

What is Dr. Nagham Nawzat Hasan's medical specialization?

She is an Iraqi gynecologist (Obstetrics and Gynecology) and a prominent human rights activist.

Why did her career focus shift after 2014?

After the ISIS attack on the Sinjar region, she dedicated her work to providing medical and psychological support to Yazidi women survivors.

What major international award did she receive?

She received the U.S. State Department's International Women of Courage Award in 2016.

What is the significance of her work in Dohuk?

In Dohuk, she established the "Hope Makers for Women" organization and provided care and documented testimonies for over a thousand survivors.