Hauwa from the Oxford Human Rights Festival planning committee shares ...

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What is your name?
My name is Hauwa, I am studying my Masters in Emergency and Development Practice at CENDEP Brookes.  I am part of the Oxford Human Right planning committee for 2020.

Where are you from?
I am from Nigeria.

Why are you interested in this festival?
For the first time in my life I have the opportunity to be involved in a platform that talks about human peace, human rights and draws experiences from all over the world showing how people are coping. It helps bring to light human rights issues, abuses and concerns that we should all be aware of and then think about what we can do.

Why do you think it is important now?
We are currently very aware and in a place in history where people are aware that human rights violations occur.  They are also aware they have rights and others have rights.  Also, the big movement of social media makes it so easy for you to get you voice and pictures out there, reaching across the oceans to get sympathy or solidarity.

What does resilience mean to you?
Resilience to me means not just the ability to bounce back but when I think of resilience I think it’s the ability of people to stretch… to bend and to twist but never beyond their tensile strength in such a case… no matter how hard something is it never really breaks them. They accommodate it and then they go back to where they were before and perhaps in instances they go back better.

What are you most excited about in the festival?
I am excited about the exhibition where we will see stories of resilience from all corners of the world.  I am excited about all the talks and the panel discussion we’ll be having and am excited about the impact and reach we will be able to have from the festival.

Can you tell me a little bit about Nigeria’s involvement?
We are having in the exhibition showcasing Fati Abubakar, a brilliant photographer from Nigeria who documents stories of resilience among internally displaced people in Nigeria.  There has been an ongoing conflict for over 10 years and she goes there… she picks up her camera and she captures the resilience of the people showing that even though they have been displaced from their homes they are still smiling and hoping to go back home.   Their hope keeps them alive. 

Exhibition and events link here
Picture below of Hauwa