Gender Rights & The Global New Now

2019 International Speaker Series—Future Leaders, Global Voices

WorldOregon welcomes Jaha Dukureh to the Portland'5 Newmark Theatre on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at 7pm, as part of the 2019 International Speaker Series.

2019 International Speaker Series

WorldOregon’s International Speaker Series, going into its 19th season, is one of the nation’s premier platforms for international affairs. This series puts you in the room with the global leaders, visionaries, and inspiring voices that are changing our world.

Today, over 50% of the world’s population is currently under the age of 30. Nearly 90% of that number are living in emerging and developing economies, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. The 21st century will be defined by how well these young leaders navigate climate change, economic uncertainty, civic participation, and huge cultural shifts in the face of increased globalization.

Fortunately, youth leadership is on the rise worldwide. From the Arab Spring to the Parkland students ‘March for Our Lives’ to the global fight for climate justice, today’s youth are not waiting for permission to make an impact on an international scale. They are shifting what it means to organize within their communities and are guiding the world towards real social change. Join us at the Newmark Theatre as we highlight "Future Leaders, Global Voices," spotlighting powerful youth-lead movements and the initiatives working to empower tomorrow's global leaders.


Individual speaker tickets ($20–$175) are on sale now!

Speaker Line-Up:


• Julian Castro - Sunday, March 3, 2019

• Jaha Dukureh - Tuesday, May 14, 2019

• Farah Pandith - Wednesday, May 29, 2019

• Erica Fernandez - Sunday, June 23, 2019

Jaha Dukureh—Gender Rights & The Global New Now

Jaha Dukureh is described as the lightning rod for change in The Gambia. An activist for women's rights and the first UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, Dukureh was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018. Through youth mobilization and tireless grassroots campaigning across Gambia, Dukureh was instrumental in influencing the Gambian Government's ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). Jaha is currently focused on building an African women’s grassroot leaders’ network, The Big Sisters Movement, to end FGM and child marriage by 2030. Dukureh is a member of The NewNow, a global collective of passionate rising leaders tackling the world’s toughest challenges.