“I will take it upon myself to never let any woman or girl suffer from violence, oppression and humiliation in my family and community, and I will never allow any woman I have access to to remain weak and humiliated. I will hold their hand until they start a new life like I did,” Najat opens her speech with this quote.

I am no better off than thousands of women who have been exposed to many types of violence, oppression and injustice in their lives. These things are widespread in our society. The story of my suffering began when I was deprived of education and marriage when I was a fifteen-year-old girl. I gave birth to children at an early age, and I began to live a story of suffering and pain that increased day after day. My suffering varied between beatings, insults, and verbal and physical abuse that continued for many years. I was patient and endured only for the sake of my family and children, and I did not realize that I had destroyed myself and buried myself alive until many years later.

No girl should accept violence, abuse and injustice under any cover. If girls are able to live in peace, love and security in their homes and with their families, and are provided with full rights to education and opportunities, then this is as it should be unless they are asked to change their situations and start new lives.