The University of Oslo’s Human Rights Award for 2011 goes to Nawal El Saadawi
The Egyptian human rights activist Dr. Nawal El Saadawi has been awarded the University of Oslo's Human Rights Award for 2011.
Pro-Rector Inga Bostad and Dr. Nawal El Saadawi (Photo: Francesco Saggio)
About the laureate
According to the citation, Dr. Nawal El Saadawi has been given the award for her tireless efforts and active international engagement. Her contributions to improving women’s social and intellectual freedom and legal status were particularly highlighted. The citation also mentions how Dr. Saadawi has revealed suppressive cultural practices and proven class suppression.
Writer and feminist
Dr. El Saadawi is an Egyptian writer and feminist, and was Director of Public Health Education at the Ministry of Health. She has also held positions as Editor-in-Chief of Health Magazine and Assistant Secretary General in Egypt’s Medical Association in the 1970s. She was fired from her position after publishing a book dealing with highly taboo subjects such as female circumcision and sexuality. Her political activities were also a contributory factor.
Persecuted
Nawal El Saadawi’s life has been threatened by Islamists, and she has been subjected to political persecution. In the 1980s she was forced to leave Egypt. She has held positions at universities such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Sorbonne, Georgetown, Berkeley and Cairo. Her works have been translated into more than 20 languages.
Pictures from the award ceremony i Gamle festsal, 14 November
