Fartuun Adan

Fartuun Abdisalaan Adan (Somali: Fartuun Aadan, Arabic: فرتون آدن) is a Somali social activist. She is the executive director of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre.

Fartuun Adan فرتون آدن
Adan in 2015
Born	Somalia
Occupation	Activist
Title	Executive Director of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre
Spouse	Elman Ali Ahmed
Children	4: Almas, Ilwad and Iman

Personal life

Adan grew up in Somalia. She was married to Elman Ali Ahmed, a local entrepreneur and peace activist.^[1][2] The couple had four daughters.^[2]

In 1996, during the height of the civil war, Adan's husband was killed near the family's home in southern Mogadishu.^[2] Adan subsequently emigrated to Canada in 1999.^[1]

In 2007, she returned to Somalia to advocate for peace and human rights.^[1]

On November 20, 2019, local authorities confirmed her daughter Almaas Elman, who had also returned to Somalia as an aid worker, had been shot and killed in a car, near the Mogadishu airport.^[3]

Career

Adan is the executive director of the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, a Mogadishu-based NGO established in honour of her late husband.^[4] She serves as the organization's Executive Director, while their daughter Ilwad works alongside her.^[5]

Through the center, she also co-founded Sister Somalia, the country's first program for assistance of victims of sexual violence.^[1]

Awards

In 2013, Adan was presented an International Women of Courage Award from the United States Department of State.^[4]

In 2014, she also received an award from the government of Germany for her work with the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre.^[6]

Fartuun Adan, together with her daughter Ilwad Elman was among the finalists nominated for the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity in 2017.^[7]