2014 Dr. Magda Adly and Dr. Suzan Fayad, Egypt

Dr. Magda Adly

Dr. Magda Adly’s activism began in the 1970s, and she was imprisoned during the Sadat regime in 1977 and 1978, accused of “changing the regime by force.” In 1993 she co-founded (with co-winner Dr. Suzan Fayad and others) El Nadim Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, the only specialist clinic in Egypt that is dedicated to treating victims of torture and trauma. As a result of her work, Dr. Adly has faced numerous threats to her safety and was attacked in 2008 while waiting to attend an appeal hearing against the pre-trial detention of three torture victims. In February, 2017, the Egyptian government closed the Center after repeated threats and continued crackdown on civil society, and she and other center works now have filed a lawsuit against the closure.

Dr. Suzan Fayad

Dr. Suzan Fayad became active in women’s and human rights as a college student in the 1970s. She co-founded (with co-winner Dr. Magda Adly and others) El Nadim Center for Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence in 1993. She specializes in rehabilitation of victims of violence and torture. Initially, the center was founded to give dignity and protection to torture victims and domestic violence but its mission has evolved to include legal action and political activism on behalf of victims of gender and political violence. Since February, 2017, the Egyptian government closed the Center after repeated threats and continued crackdown on civil society, and she and other center works now have filed a lawsuit against the closure.