Choman Hardi, a distinguished Kurdish poet, academic and translator, has been celebrated with the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law. Hardi received this notable recognition at a ceremony in Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
On 10 December the German Embassy in Baghdad announced Hardi as one of the 12 laureates this year, praising her for her tireless efforts as a “human rights champion” and for her substantial role in advancing gender equality in Iraq.
In her acceptance speech, Hardi addressed the significance of this accolade at a press conference in Erbil. “This recognition not only supports our work on human rights but also serves as a fitting response to the symbolic violence we face on a daily basis,” she stated. The Franco-German Prize, established in 2016, is bestowed annually on individuals who have made significant contributions to human rights and the rule of law, the recipients traditionally being announced on 10 December, International Human Rights Day.
Choman Hardi, daughter of the celebrated Kurdish poet Ahmed Hardi, holds the position of associate professor in the English department at the American University of Iraq Sulaimani (AUIS). Her academic pursuits encompass a wide range of topics including poetry, feminist literature, feminist literary criticism, gender and genocide, masculinity, symbolic reparation and women’s activism. Her profile on the AUIS website elaborates on these diverse interests.
In addition to her academic achievements, Hardi has a notable literary presence. She is the author of three volumes of poetry in Kurdish and two collections in English. Her establishment of the Center for Gender and Development Studies (CGDS) at the AUIS in 2015 marked a significant milestone, as it introduced the first-ever gender studies course at degree level in Iraq, further cementing her commitment to academic and social progress in the region.
