Maryam Zakaria

Maryam Zakaria Bakhit, born on January 1, 2000, in Darfur, Sudan, is a refugee rights advocate currently living Germany.

She fled Sudan in early 2021 and arrived in Libya shortly thereafter. Like many refugees, she endured trafficking, detention, and abuse. In mid-2021, she attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of safety, but was intercepted and forcibly returned to Libya, where she was imprisoned and subjected to further mistreatment.

In October 2021, Maryam joined the refugee protest in front of the UNHCR Community Day Center in Tripoli, demanding protection and justice. During this period she played a huge role in representing women’s voice and spoke to notable media like BBC, Al Jazeera and Libya local media. She continued her advocacy until December 30, 2021, when she was relocated to Niger.

In 2023, she was finally resettled in Germany, where she now resides, committed to advocating for the rights of refugees and raising awareness of the abuses she and others endured.