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From Lost Girl to Advocate: Rebecca Deng on Surviving War, Displacement, and Gender-Based Violence
Sunday, February 15, 2026
Episode Description
In this episode of Conversations on Genocide, we speak with Rebecca Deng, a South Sudanese American author and human rights advocate who survived war, displacement, and gender-based violence as one of the 89 Lost Girls of Sudan. Rebecca shares her journey from a peaceful childhood in South Sudan through life in Kakuma refugee camp to becoming a powerful voice for women and refugees worldwide. We explore the unique challenges children face in refugee camps, the devastating impact of gender-based violence in conflict zones, and Rebecca's path to healing through storytelling and advocacy. She discusses her memoir "What They Meant For Evil," the importance of forgiveness, and why survivor voices must be centered in policy-making. A moving conversation about resilience, hope, and the power of using your voice for justice.
Rebecca Deng is a South Sudanese-American author, speaker, and human rights advocate. A former refugee and one of the 89 “Lost Girls of Sudan” resettled in the United States, she survived war, displacement, and gender-based violence to become a powerful voice for women and refugees worldwide. Rebecca holds a BA in International Development/Relations and MA in Organizational Leadership. She currently lives in the U.S., where she continues her advocacy for peace, gender equity, and refugee rights. Her book, What They Meant for Evil, How a Lost Girl of Sudan Found Healing, Peace, and Purpose in the Midst of Suffering can be ordered here.
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