Widad Akrawi

Widad Akrawi (born 1969) is a Danish health expert and human rights activist of Iraqi Kurdish ancestry. In 2007, she co-founded the Norway-based human rights organization Defend International and since then has been the organization's president. She is the author of several books about both health issues and human rights.

Akrawi holds a master's degree in genetics and a PhD in international health and epidemiology. Violations of human rights that occurred during the Iraqi government offensive against the Kurds in 1974, as well as during the Al-Anfal Campaign are thought to have shaped her life. Focusing on the end goals and holding on to her principles guided her to overcome the hardships she endured. She became the first young woman born in the Middle East region to have engaged in advocacy relating to illicit trade of small arms and light weapons, gender-based violence, chemical and biological disarmament, conventional disarmament and international security.

In 2013, Akrawi was awarded the "Special Prize for bridging the gap between civilisations" by the National Organisation for Future Generations for making valuable contributions to humanity through the creation of a culture of coexistence. In 2014, she received the International Pfeffer Peace Award by the Fellowship of Reconciliation.