Shadia Cabdi

Shadia Cabdi is a woman human rights defender who has dedicated her life to combating two significant issues in Somalia: female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriage. She has worked tirelessly with grassroots organisations and through platforms such as Horn Afrik News Agency for Human Rights (HANAHR) and as a regional focal point for the Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRD) to raise awareness and protect marginalised communities. Her human rights work and advocacy has focused on empowering women and educating communities about the dangers of FGM, particularly in rural areas such as Shabelow village in Hiiraan. Her campaigns have challenged entrenched cultural norms and brought critical change to some of Somalia's most affected regions. Reports from human rights organisations have confirmed that she and her family were under constant threat of violence.