#RaiseAPen Voices for Afghan Women & Girls
On this page, you will hear the many voices of support both from within Afghanistan and internationally, for Afghan women and girls and their call for a continued right to education at a critical moment in Afghanistan.
It is through our collective endeavors that we can ensure these voices are heard loud and firm.
Shaharzad Akbar, Chairperson, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights
Commission
In this International Day of the Girl 2021 message, Shaharzad Akbar calls for the world to unite and defend Afghan girls’ right to education – a fundamental human right (October 2021).
–
Razia Arefi, General Manager, NGO Mothers For Peace, Afghanistan
Razia Arefi, who fled Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul, tells us the world should not forget Afghan women: “We are someone not no one” (September 2021).
–
H.E Rangina Hamidi, Minister of Education I.R of Afghanistan
H.E Rangina Hamidi, the Minister of Education of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, tells MMM: “It is my responsibility to make sure that all the little girls in this country who have a dream of becoming educated don’t get their dreams snatched away from them”.
–
Habiba Sarabi, Member of the Peace Negotiating Delegation I.R of Afghanistan
–
Dr Sima Samar, Afghan Women’s Rights & Human Rights Activist
–
Rahela Sidiqi, Farkhunda Trust for Afghan Women’s Education
Rahela Sidiqi, Founder & Director Farkhunda Trust for Afghan Women’s Education, MMM associate member and campaign partner talks about the importance of continued education for women & girls in Afghanistan.
–
Roya Mahboob, Afghan entrepreneur and philanthropist
Roya Mahboob, Afghan entrepreneur and philanthropist & CEO of Digital Citizen Fund, stresses the importance of educating girls: “I believe education is an engine for regional development, peace and prosperity. Girls have the same right to education as the boys”.
–
Staffan de Mistura, Former UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan
According to Staffan de Mistura, Former UN Special Envoy to Afghanistan, the MMM #RaiseAPen Campaign relaying the call of Afghan mothers “comes at a critical moment for Afghanistan. There can be no sustainable peace in the country without education for all, but most importantly, education for women and girls who represent 51% of the population”.
–
Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF
Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, reaffirms the importance of girls’ education and expresses UNICEF’s support for MMM’s #RaiseAPen campaign.
–
Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, reminds us: “Never underestimate the power of the book; never underestimate the power of the pen”.
–
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director General of Education
Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director General of Education, reminds us that “Girls’ education not only leads to a better future for her, but it leads to a better society for all of us”.
–
Najat Maalla M’jid, UN Special Representative on Violence against Children
Dr Maalla M’jid, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children, tells us: “Education is key to prevent and eliminate violence against children…the deprivation of education is in itself a form of violence”.
–
Rima Salah, Former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and Chair of ECPC
Rima Salah, Chairperson of Early Childhood Peace Consortium (ECPC) tells MMM that the reason she is supporting the #RaiseAPen campaign is because “education for girls is education for all communities and societies. An educated girl can educate her children and be a good mother”.
–
