HerStory’s Co-Founder Nila Ibrahimi Speaks at CGI, UNGEI in New York

Attending the events with a group from HerStory and the 30 Birds Foundation, Nila shared her advocacy and life journey from Afghanistan to Canada, as well as different means of supporting Afghan women’s education under the Taliban and the importance of continuing to work for change at the Unchartered Paths: Unconventional Approaches to Global Challenges Story Studio session at CGI.

“It’s been almost three years since the girls of Afghanistan have been able to step into a classroom. Afghanistan is the only country in the world—a country of 40 million people—where, once a girl turns 12 years old, she is no longer allowed to study and is barely allowed to step outside her home. If they do leave home, their faces must be fully covered. Recently, they have also been denied the right to speak in public. To the 14-year-old Nila, this is the nightmare I was escaping from and the reality my friends are living each day,” said Nila about what Afghan women are currently enduring in the country.

“Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change, inclusive economic growth, and health equity. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 3,900 Commitments to Action that have made a difference in the lives of more than 435 million people in more than 180 countries,” states the Clinton Foundation.

Nila also spoke on the importance of education as a key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at a high-level side event organized by UNGEI, sharing the panel with Lauren Rumble from UNICEF, Dr. Isabelle Rome, representative from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Nicole Haberland from the Population Council, and many other inspiring young advocates.

Co-moderating a youth-led session, Gender Equality for Adolescent Girls and Young Women at the Heart of Multilateralism, at the Summit of the Future Actions Days at the UN, Nila met several young activists, especially those her age from different countries who are fighting for change.

As the situation for women in Afghanistan becomes increasingly challenging, HerStory, along with our dedicated partners and networks, stands firm in our commitment to advocating for and supporting the rights of Afghan women.