Meet the activists

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  • Hooria Sardar

    Hooria Sardar

    Hooria Sardar, a feminist, educator, and education rights defender from Afghanistan, shares her compelling journey of advocacy and resilience.

  • Vesna Markovic

    Vesna Markovic

    Vesna Markovic, a former judge from the former Yugoslavia, narrates her remarkable journey from her early days in the judiciary to her impactful global work in conflict resolution.

  • Yasser Essa

    Yasser Essa

    Yasser Essa is a Sudanese peacebuilder, governance practitioner, and human rights advocate whose life has been shaped by the enduring legacies of conflict, marginalization, and exile — and whose work is dedicated to building just and inclusive societies from the ground up.

  • Nina Potarska

    Nina Potarska

    Nina Potarska is an exceptional human rights activist who has been forced to live in exile in Canada. Nina has faced considerable challenges that compelled her to leave her homeland of Ukraine. Despite these struggles, she remains a fervent advocate for human rights and social justice.

Commentary & Resources

Meet the team

Professor John Packer
Co-Director

Professor John Packer is an Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre (HRREC) at the University of Ottawa. He was appointed the Inaugural Neuberger-Jesin Professor of International Conflict Resolution in April 2018.

See Prof Packer’s full profile page here.

Professor Nadia Abu-Zahra
Co-Director

Professor Abu-Zahra is an Associate Professor in the School of International Development and Global Studies at the University of Ottawa, and a member of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre. Prof Abu-Zahra is the Joint Chair in Women's Studies at Carlton University and University of Ottawa.

See Prof Abu-Zahra’s full profile page here.

Dr. Philip Leech-Ngo
Coordinator

Philip Leech-Ngo is a skilled researcher, analyst and communicator with more than ten years of experience as a consultant and academic with a focus on international affairs.

See Dr. Philip Leech-Ngo’s full profile page here.

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