Javier Alvarez / SOS MEDITERRANEE

Honoring International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

11.24.2025

Since 2016, SOS MEDITERRANEE has saved the lives of 5,984 women. That’s nearly 6,000 people whose futures, once unimaginably bleak, have been reimagined. In honor of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, these are their stories.

Marina

“I’m only 19 years old and I have seen hell on that boat, but I prefer to be killed by the sea than by the Iranian government.”

“My name is Marina*, I’m 19 years old, and I’m Kurdish from the city of Mahabad in Iran. I had to flee Iran to save my life. After Zhina Mahsa Amini* got killed, I protestedfor my rights, for my freedom, for the women in Iran. [Ed’s note: Amini was a 22-year-old woman beaten to death in 2022 for not wearing a hijab]. The situation for women in the country is unbearable. In Iran, the government kills people. Seven of my friends were killed in protests. I saw one of them die.

During the protest the police arrested me. I was sentenced me to four years of jail and 75 lashes. A 15-year-old girl died of a heart attack in jail because of all the lashes she received. After spending 15 days in jail, my family managed to pay 10,000 dollars to get me out. As the police were violent with me, I had to go to the hospital when I was released. The police are still looking for me in Iran, if I come back, I will not be safe.

We were 75 people on a 12-meter boat. After three days, the toilets were no longer working, after five days we didn’t have any food or water left. I’m only 19 years old and I have seen hell on that boat, but I prefer to be killed by the sea than by the Iranian government. I deserve to be free. I want to become a doctor, that’s my dream.

Video credits: Claire Juchat, Jérémie Lusseau, Camille Martin Juan, Lucille Guenier / SOS MEDITERRANEE. We thank Haya for lending her voice to Marina’s testimony.

SOS MEDITERRANEE / Muriel Cravatte

Shararah

Shararah is a 25-year-old muay Thai fighter from Afghanistan. She was rescued in 2024 after having been adrift at sea for six days. Shararah* is Hazara, one of Afghanistan’s largest ethnic minorities, who are persecuted by Taliban fighters, in addition to the oppression faced by women in Afghanistan. “Afghanistan is not a safe country for women because of the presence of Taliban.”

Shararah started boxing when she was ten. Combat runs in the veins of the family: “My brother is a Taekwondo teacher, and my sister is also a muay Thai champion at home.” “I was able to travel to Thailand and to the United States thanks to this passion. I have trained with Shukria Bahmani, a gold-winning muay Thai fighter, and have fought in around 40 competitions. I’m the first Afghan woman who won a silver medal [in an international tournament] in 2016. I’m very proud of this.”

“I met my husband during one of my competitions in Afghanistan. He came to see me fight. We fell in love and got married, and are the parents of Adriana, our 3-year-old girl.” The family departed from Turkey on an unstable fishing vessel. “I felt like we were going to die on the ship. Adriana and I were constantly seasick and vomiting.” When asked what her plans are, Shararah replies: “I want to be a doctor or a Pilot. This would be my dream. But I will also continue to do muay Thai.”

To hear from more women rescued by SOS MEDITERRANEE, read through stories of survivors.

SOS MEDITERRANEE / Lucille Guenier

Aisha

Aisha, 39, is a women’s rights activist from Douala, Cameroon. She had to flee her country after being arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for denouncing violence against women in Cameroon’s war-torn English-speaking regions. She managed to get to Libya, but, she says, “Life in Libya was a nightmare. I endured extreme violence.” Aisha fled with her infant daughter in January 2025, and the pair were rescued by our team. They’re now safe in Italy, far from violence and with the prospect of a bright future.