Nobel Women’s Initiative blog

The NWI blog is a diary written by four rapporteurs, NWI participants and openDemocracy’s program director Jane Gabriel. Our poDcast was directed by Siobhan O’Connell, openDemocracy’s podcast producer.

The rapporteurs invited to observe the NWI conference are:

Rebecca Barlow is a Researcher and PhD Candidate at the Centre for Muslim Minorities and Islam Policy Studies at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. Her research focuses on the international human rights system, women’s human rights, and women’s rights in Muslim societies.

Jameen Kaur is of Indian descent, however she was born and grew up in London, England. She has been living in Ireland now for the past 6 years, and started working with Amnesty International in 2002. She manages Amnesty’s campaigns and activism for county Galway. Her work involves networking and working very closely with schools, the university in particular, the Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR) local businesses and organisations, as well as other grass roots groups and other NGOs.

Prior to joining Amnesty International she lived and worked in The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand. She is currently studying (part time) for the Masters in International Human Rights Law at the ICHR. She holds a BA in English and History and a postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.

Roja Bandari lived in Iran up until the age of 20. She then moved to the US, where she is a PhD student in electrical engineering. She currently participates in a group to advocate for the One Million Signatures campaign and spread the word about Iranian women’s rights.

This May, Amelia Korangy received her Baccalaureate Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park where she studied Political Science and Rhetoric. Amelia worked intently as a CIVCUS Associate while at the University, where she focused on building cooperative civil society in diverse communities. Her interests lay in philanthropy and fundraising for social change, and so Miss Korangy currently works as the Development Officer for the international not-for-profit FAIR Fund. Amelia focuses on strengthening community support for the organization based in Washington, DC that seeks to engage young women around the world in civic activism to end gender violence and human trafficking. As an Iranian-American, Amelia brings with her an intense appreciation for the art, food, and culture of Iran and looks forward to traveling to the country later this summer. Miss Korangy speaks English and Spanish and enjoys live music, cooking, vibrant debate, dancing, and films.