Nadia Murad, the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, visited Baja California to deliver a conference titled «Freedom, Dignity, Resilience: Human Trafficking in the Face of Society’s Indifference» at CETYS University’s Tijuana Campus. The lecture was also broadcast virtually to the Mexicali and Ensenada campuses, aiming to raise awareness about exploitation, human trafficking, and the importance of defending human rights.

Before the conference, Dr. Fernando León-García, President of the CETYS University System, highlighted the significance of her visit. He noted that this marked the fourth time a Nobel laureate had graced CETYS University and the first time a female Nobel Peace Prize laureate had done so. Previously, Nobel laureates in Physics John Lewis Hall in 2011, Eric A. Cornell in 2014, and Wolfgang Ketterle in 2016 had visited the Mexicali campus.

«Nadia has overcome traumatic events, being a survivor of genocide and sexual violence by the Islamic State ISIS. It is invaluable to hear her story and powerful speech, as it can inspire more women to empower themselves and motivate the community to take an interest in defending human rights. At CETYS, we are honored to have her share her experience with our community on the US-Mexico border, especially in support of women’s rights and communities suffering brutality and abuse, such as the Yazidis. We are convinced of the need to build bridges towards a better future,» shared the President, Dr. Fernando León-García.

Nadia Murad emerged as a leading advocate for survivors of genocide and sexual violence after enduring the horrific Yazidi Genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq. Despite her traumatic experiences, she transformed her story of pain and abuse into a message of hope. During the 2014 attack, Nadia was taken captive by ISIS members and forced into slavery, enduring repeated abuse until she managed to escape. Since then, she has bravely shared her story to raise awareness about gender-based violence and has become a powerful advocate for women and communities suffering extreme brutality and abuse.

«To heal, to build a world where human rights are respected, where atrocities are prevented, and trafficking is ended, we need bright young people, future leaders, who defend equality, human rights, and peace,» she said before an audience primarily composed of high school and college students.

Murad shared that her organization, Nadia’s Initiative, is not only bringing hope back to the region but also life. «Our educational projects have allowed children to return to school, young adults to obtain professional qualifications, and widows to have the opportunity to learn business skills to support their families.»

The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate highlighted the fundamental role of education because, in a world with so much global conflict, it is imperative to provide this tool to help them understand their human rights and where to seek help, which is what happens to people who suffer displacement, where women and children are the most exposed to being victims of trafficking and abuse for profit and torture.

The conference «Freedom, Dignity, Resilience: Human Trafficking in the Face of Society’s Indifference» aimed to continue raising awareness about exploitation and human trafficking in a region sensitive to these issues, such as the border between Mexico and the United States.

Also present at the event were Gustavo Vildósola-Ramos, Chair of the Instituto Educativo del Noroeste A.C. (IENAC), Yanina Rubio-Bojórquez, Dean of CETYS University Tijuana Campus, and other academic and business community members from the region.

In addition to the conference, Nadia Murad toured the facilities of the Tijuana Campus, signed books available at the Luis Fimbres-Moreno Information Center, and engaged in a dialogue with various student leaders from CETYS University.