Fatima al-Aqel

Fatima al-Aqel (died January 11, 2012) was an activist for individuals with disabilities. She directed most of her efforts advocating for women with blindness in Yemen. The president of the Arab Association for Human Rights, Raja Al-Masabi, said her work had been key to educating women with visual impairment in Yemen.[1]

Fatima al-Aqel
Born1957 (1957)
Yemen
DiedJanuary 11, 2012(2012-01-11) (aged 54–55)
Yemen
OccupationActivist
Known forActivism for individuals with disabilities

Biography

While studying at Cairo University, Al-Aqel lost her sight.[2] She finished her degree, despite her new disability, getting a bachelor of arts and receiving a diploma in Islamic studies.[2]

Al-Aqel opened the first school for blind women in Yemen in 1995.[3] Later, she founded an organization, the Al-Aman Organization Blind Women Care (AOBWC, جمعية الأمان لرعاية الكفيفات) in 1997 in order to further the opportunities for blind women in education and the workforce.[3] The country of Yemen has a high rate of blindness and eye diseases, many of which are treatable.[4] However many Yemenis can't afford treatment, or in some cases, receive poor medical advice, and go blind as a result.[4] In 2012, it was estimated that there were around 76,000 blind Yemenis, most of them living in rural areas.[5] In Yemen, people with disabilities face difficult challenges receiving education and access to social and public services.[6]

Al-Aqel wanted women in Yemen to be able to be an active part of society and able to continue their education and be able to obtain employment.[7] AOBWC as a group supports the education of women with blindness in order to help them take part in social and political spheres. Her group also helps adapt literature to Braille.[8] The group also works closely with the Education Ministry and other similar foundations.[2] In 2001, Al-Aqel entered into a mutual cooperation agreement between AOBWC and the British Cultural Council began.[8]

In 2012, Al-Aqel was honored by the Balqis Award, an annual $20,000 prize which is given to recognize the contributions of women's groups in Yemen.[9] Al-Aqel was also honored at the third annual "Festival of the Blind" in Sana'a in 2013 for her work in AOBWC as she strove to create a "more compassionate and considerate world for the blind."[10]

References
  1. "People With Disabilities and Freedom of Expression". Yemen Times. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  2. Nasser, Afrah (12 January 2012). "Yemen Lost One of its Female Change-Makers; Fatima al-Aqel". Afrah Nasser's Blog. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  3. "Speech in Honor of International Women's Day". Embassy of the United States - Yemen. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  4. "More Efforts Needed to Fight Blindness in Yemen". Yemen Times. 7 July 2011 – via Lexis Nexus.
  5. Al-Duais, Mohammed; Jetschke, Gottfried (2012). Hehmeyer, Indrid; Schonig, Hanne (eds.). Herbal Medicine in Yemen: Traditional Knowledge and Practice and Their Value for Today's World. Leiden, The Netherlands: Koninklijke Brill NV. p. 178. ISBN 9789004221505.
  6. Turmusani, Majid (26 December 2004). "Yemen: Disability Profile". Disability World. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  7. "Blind Yemeni Woman Fulfills Her Dreams". My Vision Test News Archive. 20 May 2008. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  8. "UK Ambassador Praises Eman Association for Blind Females Care". Arabia 2000. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 6 August 2015 – via Newspaper Source - EBSCO.
  9. "Yemen LNG Celebrates International Women's Day, Establishes 'Balqis Award' For Successful Women NGOs". Yemen LNG Company. 11 March 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  10. Al-Mohattwari, Asma (8 March 2013). "Al-Aman Association Holds Third Annual 'Festival of the Blind'". National Yemen. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
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