Nisreen al-Salman

Iraqi doctor and humanitarian providing healthcare in conflict zones, championing women's rights in war-torn regions.

Nisreen al-Salman is a physician and activist from Iraq, renowned for her relentless efforts to deliver healthcare in war zones and empower women in crisis. Born in 1985, she grew up during the Iran-Iraq War and later witnessed the 2003 invasion's aftermath. Al-Salman co-founded the Doctors Without Borders Iraq mission in 2014, establishing mobile clinics in areas inaccessible to international aid. Her teams treated thousands injured in ISIS conflicts while advocating for women's access to maternal care.

In 2016, she launched the Salam Health Initiative, focusing on mental health support for survivors of sexual violence. Al-Salman also trains local nurses to sustain healthcare systems post-conflict. Her work earned her the Nordic Council's Human Rights Prize in 2020. Despite death threats, she continues to speak globally, including at the UN Women, Peace, and Security Conference.

Al-Salman’s advocacy bridges medical aid and gender justice, proving that localized solutions can thrive amid chaos. Her story is chronicled in Al Jazeera documentaries and BBC interviews.