Yasmin Luqman is a recent graduate from the MSc International Relations of the Middle East with Arabic programme at the University of Edinburgh. She fascinated by the role of women in peacemaking and conflict resolution and especially in the role of Middle Eastern women. For example, she has been passionate about the Palestinian cause since she was young and recognises the critical role women play in preserving cultural memory and resistance movements. In completing her Master’s degree, she researched and wrote her dissertation on the role of Yemeni female activists during the Arab Spring uprising in Yemen and the challenges they have faced due to their gender, including a chapter on the role of peacemakers and the challenges they face from male delegates. She is half-Yemeni and has an aunt who is heavily involved in empowering Yemeni women and girls and in peacemaking processes to end the war in Yemen. She would eventually like to pursue a PhD programme furthering this research and is looking forward to hearing perspectives from others on this! In addition, she is a volunteer for the Scottish Green Party and also works on the social media strategy for an Edinburgh-based NGO focused on climate change called MAD Challenges.

Participant in: December 2019 Fellowship: Peacebuilding and Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peacebuilding Processes