At the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman called on global citizens and leaders to rethink their understanding of peace, urging them to place justice, accountability, and human dignity at its core.

During her participation in the “Culture of Peace” forum, part of the “Art for Peace” festival hosted by the Gres Art 671 Center in Bergamo, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman emphasized the significant role art can play in addressing humanitarian challenges and fostering mutual understanding between peoples.

Karman, speaking at the event, conveyed that she viewed art as a powerful force capable of confronting tyranny and occupation. She noted that artistic expression, in her view, holds the potential to bridge divides, inspire resistance against injustice, and cultivate peace in societies facing conflict.

The dialogue session, which focused on the relationship between art, culture, and the promotion of peace and human rights, also featured Ghanaian political activist Samia Nkrumah, daughter of the late Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah. The contributions of both women were seen as a testament to their shared commitment to feminist ideals and the pursuit of justice and freedom. Their remarks collectively underscored the importance of using art as a medium to spread a culture of peace.

Karman also spoke about the “Art for Peace” initiative led by her foundation, which aims to empower young Yemeni artists to use their creativity as a vehicle for positive change. She explained that the project encourages youth in Yemen to become peacebuilders through art, offering them a platform to challenge violence and promote dialogue within their communities.

Reflecting on her own background, Karman shared that she took pride in being Yemeni, a woman, and her father’s daughter. She said that although her father may not have expected her to become a revolutionary, he had taught her the importance of taking initiative and being proactive in seeking solutions rather than waiting for change to happen. According to her, he instilled in her the principles and values that guided her activism, particularly in a country where she believed the ruling regime had long been the root of the nation’s crises.

Karman went on to describe her 14-year commitment to revolutionary activism, stating that although the journey had been long, she remained steadfast in her cause. She remarked that she and her fellow revolutionaries had faced numerous tyrants since the 2011 uprisings across the Arab region, and that many of those who had supported the revolution continued to make sacrifices to this day. She said she had not surrendered, nor had they, and she affirmed that the path to freedom remained arduous. Drawing a connection to Italy’s own historical struggles for liberty, she suggested that Italians were well acquainted with the high price of freedom.

In closing, Karman issued a call for resistance to hatred, racism, and xenophobia. She urged people to support democratic principles, suggesting that doing so would serve not only their countries but the broader cause of peace. She stressed that the solution lay in coexistence, mutual respect, and a shared dedication to improving laws and upholding constitutional values.

The “Art for Peace” festival brought together artists, thinkers, and activists from around the world to explore how creative expression can contribute to global reconciliation and the advancement of human rights.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and prominent human rights advocate Tawakkol Karman raised serious concerns about the growing threats facing children around the world, warning that their safety, rights, and future opportunities are increasingly jeopardized by ongoing wars, authoritarianism, and rising global inequality.

Human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Tawakkol Karman, has strongly condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, describing them as “genocide, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes” during a fact-finding mission organized by the Nobel Women’s Initiative (NWI).

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman has called upon the international community to shed light on two of the most overlooked conflicts in the world: the wars in Yemen and Sudan.

At the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC), Nobel laureate and human rights activist Tawakkol Karman criticized Western policies towards the Middle East, citing that they have gone beyond mere double standards to outright hostility against the aspirations of the region’s people.

Human rights advocate and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman has raised concerns over what she describes as deliberate efforts to distort the narrative of Yemen’s February 11 Revolution, warning that such attempts seek to whitewash fallen regime.

Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights advocate Tawakkol Karman has called on Western governments and the international community to lift sanctions on the fallen al-Assad regime, stressing that these measures continue to harm the Syrian people. She also urged support for the country’s stability and democratic transition.