Women for Afghanistan (“WFA”) is a nonprofit organization established in Geneva and functioning according to Swiss laws with the purpose to:
- Amplify the voices of the people of Afghanistan, especially women, throughout the world;
- Create a platform to serve as a space for dialogue and improved relationships between Afghan people, especially women, stakeholders from Afghanistan, international institutions and organizations (such as the United Nations, international NGOs, the International Criminal Court and the European Union), civil society and women’s associations;
- Seek opportunities for the promotion of education, the improvement of life skills and development of women’s entrepreneurship;
- Provide humanitarian assistance, promote peace and democracy and enhance the rights of Afghan people with a focus on the situation of women.
WFA collaborates with the UN, EU and its member states, women and men from Afghanistan and in exile to create a platform for dialogue. The organization strives to promote peace, dialogue, democracy and a genuine understanding of women rights and their situation.
Message from our President
I am honored to serve as the Board President of Women for Afghanistan (WFA). As a not-for-profit organization, WFA serves as a platform to unite and amplify Afghan women’s voices and address their needs at this pivotal moment in history when the ruling regime is actively suppressing and denying the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.
WFA aims to provide a safe space for women and girls inside and outside of Afghanistan, of all backgrounds, and with diverse viewpoints, to exercise their rights and determine their own future. Our focus at WFA is to transform the organization into a safe space where women can coalesce, collaborate, network, strategize, and formulate plans to help lead them into positions of leadership for a positive change in our country. Since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban in August 2021, we have witnessed unprecedented suppression and gross violations of women’s basic rights under the ruling regime. The de facto regime has banned women’s participation in all walks of life, including socio-economic and political spheres. The ruling regime has also actively silenced women’s voices through brutal tactics and violence without any repercussions. Despite an ever-shrinking space and fading attention from the international community, Afghan women have not given up advocating for their basic rights, fearlessly and boldly seizing any opportunity to raise their collective voices and speak up for their just cause.
It is time for all relevant stakeholders in Afghanistan to recognize and appreciate the role that women can play in fostering and more importantly leading a culture of tolerance, coexistence, peace-building, and conflict resolution. I am determined to help propel this organization to the next level for our members and partners, trusting that we can mobilize, empower, and unite Afghan women.
Sincerely,
Fawzia Koofi
Board President, Women for Afghanistan (WFA)
MEET OUR BOARD
Fawzia Koofi
President
Fawzia Koofi is from Afghanistan. First female vice-president of the former Afghan Parliament (former Chair of Women Affairs Commission Parliament)
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Fawzia Koofi
President
Fawzia Koofi is from Afghanistan. First female vice-president of the former Afghan Parliament (former Chair of Women Affairs Commission Parliament), favored nominee for Nobel Peace Prize and one of the four women members of the peace negotiation delegation with Taliban in Doha Qatar in 2020, author of the books “Letters to my daughters” and “The Favored Daughter, human rights and women’s rights activist. Ms. Koofi is former Presidential fellow with Florida International University (FIU) and senior fellow with National Endowment for Democracy (NED). She has founded and launched initiatives in Afghanistan including JEAO; Afghan women led non-profit and non-governmental organization promoting education, development, governance and rule of law through project design and management in Afghanistan. Between 2001 and 2005, she worked with UNICEF for promoting children rights and managing the Child Soldier Disarmament and Reintegration project. She has led the campaign “Back to school” through which thousands of students were sent back to schools after the fall of Taliban in 2001. Recently she has been part of establishing several movements and coalitions including Afghan Women coalition for Change and Women Leaders Forum.
Homaira Rahimi
Board Member
Dr. Homaira Rahimi, from Afghanistan, Dr. Rahimi International Affairs Specialist with 10 years of experience in the field of international cooperation.
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Homaira Rahimi
Board Member
Dr. Homaira Rahimi, from Afghanistan, Dr. Rahimi International Affairs Specialist with 10 years of experience in the field of international cooperation, Co-founder of Child Life Action (CLA); a Geneva based non-profit organization leveraging finance and technical expertise to child related projects. Board member of Youth Center for Dialogue & Peace (YCDP), a non-profit organization in Geneva, where young voices unite to build bridges & inspire positive change in the world. Member of United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG-Geneva), a charity organization assisting women & children in need throughout the world. Prior to this position, she worked as training & international cooperation officer in an intergovernmental organization in Geneva, Switzerland. She was an international consultant in the Advancing Afghan Trade project with the International Trade Center (ITC). Dr. Rahimi also served as public relation & project coordinator consultant with the United Nations for Training & Research (UNITAR), in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to her expertise, Dr. Rahimi has adequate experience in the field of promoting education, infrastructure and health for all, particularly focusing on girls’ education as a path towards development and empowerment.
Iris Bjorg Kristjansdottir
Board Member
Iris Bjorg Kristjansdottir is currently a Director of the International Division with the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police.
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Iris Bjorg Kristjansdottir
Board Member
Iris Bjorg Kristjansdottir is currently a Director of the International Division with the National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police. Iris has extensive experience in governance and in providing high level policy advice and engaging diverse actors and stakeholders in decision making platforms. Iris served as a Senior Policy Adviser in the Prime Minister’s Office in Iceland on policy coordination, crisis prevention and response, a regional Peace, Security and Humanitarian Adviser for UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia; a Gender & Humanitarian specialist for UN Women Turkey Country Office; a Senior Specialist and Team Leader in the Ministry of Justice in Iceland. Iris has facilitated and led multiple global and national consultative and consultation processes, facilitated strategic partnerships and managed global, regional and cross-country portfolios and programmes. Iris has years of experience and is a strong believer in the importance of engaging women leaders and women’s rights and women-led organizations in decision-making platforms or processes and peace efforts.
Kathleen Holmlund
Board Member
Kathleen Holmlund is the Managing Director of Giving Women, a membership association of women philanthropists supporting girls and women in need all over the world
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Kathleen Holmlund
Board Member
Kathleen Holmlund is the Director of Communications and Partnerships at Giving Women, a membership association headquartered in Geneva, which seeks to build a community of informed women philanthropists and to make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable women and girls in need around the world. Kathleen is an accomplished communications professional recognized for her dedication and passion for driving positive change. With a career spanning 25 years across the fields of automotive electronics, food, human rights, business ethics, gender equality and climate, she has established herself as a versatile change maker known for her innovative strategies and creative vision. Her experience spans across leveraging communications strategies to raise awareness, drive engagement, and secure funding for causes that align with her values. Kathleen’s adeptness at utilizing digital platforms and her innovative approach have significantly contributed to expanding the reach and impact of the organizations she has been involved with.
Lisa Curtis
Board Member
Lisa Curtis is Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. She is a foreign policy and national security expert.
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Lisa Curtis
Board Member
Lisa Curtis is Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. She is a foreign policy and national security expert with over 20 years of service in the U.S. government. Her work has centered on U.S. policy toward the Indo-Pacific and South Asia. From 2017 to 2021, Curtis served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the NSC. From 2006–2017, Curtis was Senior Fellow on South Asia at The Heritage Foundation, where she appeared regularly in the media and provided frequent Congressional testimony. She also served as Professional Staff Member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (2003-2006), Senior Advisor in the South Asia Bureau at the State Department (2001-2003), senior analyst on South Asia at the CIA (1998-2001), and as a diplomat at the U.S. Embassies in Pakistan and India (1994 to 1997).
Curtis has published commentary in Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, CNN.com, NPR.org, and other media outlets and has made multiple appearances on CNN, Fox News, BBC, PBS, MSNBC, and C-SPAN. Curtis received the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service in December 2020 in recognition of her work at the NSC. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Radio Free Europe/Radio Free Liberty and on the Leadership Council of Women in National Security (LCWINS) and is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
MEER OUR COUNCIL OF EXPERTS
Anonymous
In consideration of security concerns, we strive to maintain the confidentiality of the individual’s identity.
Dr. Aliye Yilmaz
Dr. Aliye Yilmaz asst. Prof. Dr. Suleyman Demirel University
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Dr. Aliye Yilmaz
Dr. Aliye Yilmaz asst. Prof. Dr. Suleyman Demirel University. Member of leadership committee for the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) and former commissioner of the Independent Administrative Reform and Civil Service Commission (ARCSC) of Afghanistan. Dr. Aliye Yilmaz got her Ph.D. in Philosophy and Religious Sciences from Ankara University. She completed her second Ph.D. on the subject of Evaluation of Political Texts with Grounded Theory. She wrote her Master’s thesis in 2005 on Afghanistan Women’s Education and Social status. Dr. Aliye Yilmaz, who works as a human rights protector, is the head of the Afghanistan Education, Culture and Social Assistance Association in Ankara. In the past years, she has also carried out educational and cultural studies with the Emir Ali Sir Nevai Foundation, of which she is a founding member.
Anonymous
In consideration of security concerns, we strive to maintain the confidentiality of the individual’s identity.
Anarkali Honaryar
Ms. Anarkali Honaryar, a graduate of Kabul Medical University in 2006, started her career as a Human Rights analyst at the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan
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Ms. Anarkali Honaryar
Ms. Anarkali Honaryar, a graduate of Kabul Medical University in 2006, started her career as a Human Rights analyst at the Independent Human Rights Commission of Afghanistan. With an illustrious background as a former member of the Afghan senate (Meshrano Jirga), Ms. Honaryar has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to society. She has been honored with the Prestigious Person of the Year Award from Radio Freedom Europe, the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the Promotion of Tolerance and Non-Violence, as well as an award from the Sikh International Foundation in California, USA. Ms. Honaryar participated in numerous peace and human rights conferences worldwide. Notably, the Women Rights Conference in New Delhi, India in 2008, Paris Conference on Peace Process, Media Activism Conference in India and Pakistan and Peace Conference in Dubai, UAE. She has represented the Afghan Government in the Doha Peace Negotiation. Currently, she resides in France as an exile and is active member of the Afghan Women Coalition for Change.
Anonymous
In consideration of security concerns, we strive to maintain the confidentiality of the individual’s identity.
Massouda Karokhi
Ms. Massouda Karokhi is a committed humanitarian and women’s rights activist. She served as Member of Parliament from 2010 until 2021
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Ms. Massouda Karokhi
Ms. Massouda Karokhi is a committed humanitarian and women’s rights activist. She served as Member of Parliament from 2010 until 2021. During her term as Member of Parliament she represented Herat province. She was the Deputy Standing Committee of Human Rights, Women Rights and Civil Society as well as Education Committee in the Parliament. Before her Parliamentary role, she was an education activist and longtime teacher in Herat city. Currently, Ms. Karokhi resides in Herat Province, Afghanistan, dedicating her efforts to advocating for human rights and women’s rights. Notably, she actively participated in the Constitutional Loya Jirga, representing the women of Herat Province.
Anonymous
In consideration of security concerns, we strive to maintain the confidentiality of the individual’s identity.
Nargis Nehan
Ms. Nargis Nehan given the title, ‘Iron Woman of Kabul’ by Bloomberg in 2019, when she was the Mines and Petroleum Acting Minister
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Ms. Nargis Nehan
Ms. Nargis Nehan given the title, ‘Iron Woman of Kabul’ by Bloomberg in 2019, when she was the Mines and Petroleum Acting Minister, has dedicated her life to developing Afghanistan by empowering women and youth and fighting corruption through government and civil society. She started working for an international organization to support her family while pursuing her higher education in the evening. When the Interim Administration of Afghanistan was established, Ms. Nehan returned to Afghanistan to take part in her country’s reconstruction. Ms. Nehan has served public offices as Director General of the Treasury Department at the Ministry of Finance and Senior Advisor to the Ministers of Education and Higher Education. During her service, Ms. Nehan initiated several reform projects and implemented them successfully. She founded EQUALITY for Peace and Democracy (EPD) a civil society organization for empowering women and youth. During this time, Ms. Nehan also served as member of Supreme Council of Afghanistan’s Central Bank. After establishment of National Unity Government, Ms. Nehan once again was called to join the government, serving as Advisor to President for two years and Acting Minister of Mines and Petroleum for almost three years. Since collapse of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and all the restrictions Taliban enforced on Afghan women, Ms. Nehan is living in exile and tirelessly advocating for Afghan women’s rights and restoration of democracy in Afghanistan.
Anonymous
In consideration of security concerns, we strive to maintain the confidentiality of the individual’s identity.
Shukria Barakzai
Ms. Shukria Barakzai is former Ambassador of Afghanistan to Norway, parliamentarian and a women rights activist in Afghanistan
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Shukria Barakzai
Ms. Shukria Barakzai is former Ambassador of Afghanistan to Norway, parliamentarian and a women rights activist in Afghanistan. Ms. Barakzai was appointed a member of the 2003 Loya Jirga, a body of representatives from all over Afghanistan, that was nominated to discuss and pass the new constitution after the fall of the Taliban. In 2004, Ms. Shukria Barakzai was named the International Editor of the Year by the World Press Review and Woman of the Year by the BBC radio program Woman’s Hour. In the October 2005 elections, she was elected as a member of the House of the People or Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of the National Assembly of Afghanistan. She was one of the 71 women out of 249 MPs. Ms. Barakzai holds a degree in geology and archaeology from the University in Kabul.