Payzee Mahmod From United Kingdom is OD Young Person of the Month – June 2025 – YOA

Payzee Mahmod is a survivor, advocate, and campaigner working to finish dangerous practices reminiscent of child marriage, pressured marriage, and “honour”-based abuse. She makes use of her private story, as a child bride and as the sister of Banaz Mahmod, who was tragically murdered in a so-referred to as “honour” killing to struggle for systemic change and justice for these most in danger.

Read about her unimaginable journey under:

Her journey into activism was born from deep private ache. She was coerced right into a child marriage at simply 16, with out understanding what that meant or having the freedom to say no. Her sister Banaz was killed at 20 after leaving an abusive marriage and in search of assist that by no means got here in time. Her dying, and her personal survival, grew to become the catalyst for her mission: to make sure no different lady suffers in silence or is failed by the programs meant to guard her.

Payzee works alongside organisations reminiscent of IKWRO – Women’s Rights Organisation (IKWRO) and Girls Not Brides, calling for authorized reform and cultural change. Her advocacy performed a task in the profitable marketing campaign to lift the minimal age of marriage to 18 in England and Wales, a monumental achievement in child safety.

She has spoken in Parliament, at the United Nations, and on international platforms reminiscent of TED Talks, sharing the message that child marriage is not a cultural custom, it’s a violation of rights. She echo IKWRO’s marketing campaign slogan “Crime Not Culture” in her activism to spotlight how so-referred to as honour-primarily based abuse should be handled as felony, not excused or downplayed beneath cultural relativism.

On Challenges Faced :

Some of the challenges she has confronted embody overcoming stigma, navigating grief whereas preventing for justice, and pushing in opposition to deeply rooted societal norms. But I’ve additionally seen unimaginable change. Survivors are talking up. Laws are altering. Awareness is rising.

Through her work, she intention to empower communities, educate policymakers, and encourage the subsequent era of activists. Advocacy is by no means straightforward — however each step we take in the direction of justice saves lives.

Connect to Payzee Mahmod right here, Instagram, LinkedIn

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