Arakan News Agency
Rohingya activist Nur Azizah, Co-Executive Director of the Myawfinoor Rohingya Cooperative Network, won the “Voice of Now” award during the Marie Claire Women of the Year ceremony, an annual event organized by Marie Claire Australia to honor women contributing to social change.
The Voice of Now award recognizes leaders who clearly articulate urgent issues and lead movements for change. Nur Azizah dedicated her award to the Rohingya community, emphasizing that it is a source of special courage and strength for women and children enduring difficult circumstances.
Nur Azizah is considered one of the most prominent Rohingya figures in human rights, education, and community leadership. Her recognition comes in appreciation of her efforts to raise awareness of Rohingya issues and highlight the political and humanitarian challenges they face.
Born in Myanmar in 1995, Nur and her family fled to Malaysia shortly afterward, where they lived for eight years, facing discrimination, poverty, and security harassment as undocumented migrants. Her family eventually obtained asylum in Australia in 2003, marking the beginning of Nur’s journey to mobilize support for the Rohingya cause.
The Rohingya in Myanmar have suffered decades of persecution, being denied citizenship and subjected to violence, killings, and displacement. In particular, the 2017 military campaign in Arakan State resulted in the deaths of at least 10,000 people, including children and women. Entire villages were burned, and women were subjected to sexual assaults, according to activists and human rights organizations. This violence forced over one million Rohingya to flee Myanmar for Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries in search of safety.
