São Paulo – The BBC’s list of the 100 most inspiring and influential women from around the world in 2024 features 14 from Arab countries. The media company released its ranking on Tuesday (3), saying that the BBC 100 Women acknowledges the toll this year has taken on women by celebrating those who–through their resilience–are pushing for change, as the world changes around them.
The BBC listed the women in five categories: Entertainment & Sports; Politics & Advocacy; Culture & Education; Science, Health & Tech; and Climate Pioneers. “The list also remains committed to exploring the impact of the climate emergency, highlighting climate pioneers who work to help their communities tackle its impacts,” said the British corporation.
Among the influential women in the Entertainment & Sports category is Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, one of the most famous figures in Arab cinema. In the Politics & Advocacy category, the BBC selected Fawzia al-Otaibi, a women’s rights activist in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom; Sudan’s Hala Alkarib, who works against sexual violence in war; and Nadia Muraq, an Iraqi Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Arab engineers and doctors
Arab women Yasmeen Mjalli, a designer from Palestine, Hinda Abdi Mohamoud, a journalist from Somalia, Harbia Al Himiary, a heritage conservation engineer from Yemen, Christina Assi, a photojournalist from Lebanon, and Plestia Alaqad, a journalist and poet from Palestine, are included in the Culture & Education ranking. In the Science, Health & Tech category, the BBC listed Palestinian agricultural engineer Enas Al-Ghoul, Egyptian femtech entrepreneur Nour Emam, Palestinian pediatrician Shireen Abed, Sudanese obstetrician Safa Ali, and Syrian psychologist Samia. Palestine’s Enas Al-Ghoul is listed in the Climate Pioneers category.
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We, the women, are many, and we are Arabs
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
