Former Minister of Women’s Affairs and the first woman to run for president Massouda Jalal, and her activist daughter, Husna Jalal, will be awarded the International Women’s Rights Award on behalf of all Afghan women’s rights activists at the 17th annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy to Afghanistan’s on behalf of all Afghan women’s rights activists. Click here to view the presentation of the award by Nazanin Afshin-Jam.
Full Remarks by Dr. Massouda Jalal:
Distinguished guests,
It is with profound gratitude that I accept the International Women’s Rights Award today. But this honor is not mine alone—it belongs to every Afghan woman who continues to resist oppression, to every Afghan girl who refuses to give up on her education, and to every mother who dreams of a future where her daughters are free and safe.
For decades, Afghan women have fought for their rightful place in society. I was one of the fortunate few who had access to education, earning my medical degree from Kabul Medical University and later joining its faculty. As a doctor, I saw firsthand how systemic injustices—poverty, forced marriage, and lack of education—trapped women in cycles of suffering. I realized that treating their physical ailments was not enough. Their struggles were rooted in policies designed to silence them, to erase them. And so, I turned to advocacy.
But the Taliban’s rise in late 90s sought to undo everything we had worked for. They stripped women of their rights, banned them from education and employment, and imposed a regime of fear. I lost my position at the university, yet I refused to be silent. I fought for women’s rights to work and education—and for that, I was imprisoned by the Taliban leadership. If not for international and UN intervention, I might not be standing here today.
When Afghanistan began its journey towards democracy in 2001, I saw an opportunity—not just for myself, but for every woman who had been told she was powerless. In 2002, I became the first woman in Afghanistan’s history to run for the presidency. Many dismissed the idea of a woman leading the country, but I persisted. My campaign was not just about winning an election—it was about proving that women belong in politics, that we are capable of leading, and of shaping our nation’s future.
Though I did not win the presidency, our fight was not in vain. Women entered politics in unprecedented numbers—nearly more than 500 female candidates ran for offices in the following year. By 2021, Afghan women held key civil service roles as ministers, ambassadors, judges, and lawmakers. We led businesses, reported as journalists, enforced the law, and advanced healthcare and education. Our achievements were not just personal successes but a collective determination to build a more inclusive and democratic Afghanistan. We were building a nation where women were not just participants, but decision-makers.
Then, in 2021, the Taliban returned, And with them, they brought back the darkness we had fought so hard to escape. Women were banned from schools, forced out of their jobs, erased from public life. Those of us who had spent our lives advocating for change were forced into exile or silenced through threats and imprisonment. The Taliban spread lies, claiming that Afghan women leaders had abandoned their people. But exile does not mean surrender.
We are still fighting. We will always fight because Afghan women make up half of our nation and We demand a future where women are not merely survivors but leaders, where girls can walk into classrooms without fear, where no one is forced into silence because of their gender.
This award is not just a recognition of past efforts—it is a call to continue. A reminder that our work is far from over. And I promise you: I promise you I am ready to return to my beloved country Afghanistan the moment it is safe. I will continue to fight for democracy, for justice, for the dignity of every Afghan woman. Because we will not be erased. We will not be silenced. And we will never stop fighting for the future we deserve.
Full Prepared Remarks by Husna Jalal:
Ladies and gentlemen,
It’s a true honor to receive the International Women’s Rights award and represent the young generation of Afghanistan today.
I was born during the first Taliban rule in the 1990s—a time of extreme repression, especially for the women of Afghanistan. When the Taliban seized power in 1990s, they imposed severe restrictions on education, employment, and basic freedoms, targeting anyone who dared to oppose them. But amidst that darkness, there were voices of resistance. One of those voices was my mother, Dr. Massouda Jalal—a woman who stood up when many were forced into silence.
Today, I stand before you as a 29-year-old Afghan, representing a generation of women who grew up under radically different circumstances than our mothers. My mother was born during a monarchy. She witnessed coups, survived a Soviet invasion in Afghanistan, and endured the first Taliban regime. But I was raised in democracy—one where women could become parliamentarians, leaders, and ministers. My generation grew up believing that we, too, could take the highest positions in the government. And we saw it happen in Afghanistan! When my mother ran for the president in 2002 and again in 2004, our family home became her campaign headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. As a child, I learned the power of change from a very young age. I watched my mother fight for a better and peaceful Afghanistan, and I understood that progress was not just a dream—it was something we had to fight for it.
So, when the Taliban seized power in Kabul in 2021, my generation was in shock. We had heard the horror stories from our mothers—of being trapped within four walls. But never did we think we could live through it ourselves.
In July 2021, just a month before the collapse of Afghanistan and republic government I spent six days leading a training for the young women in Afghanistan in Kabul on social justice and how to fight patriarchy in Afghanistan. Imagine that—teaching young women how to challenge oppression and dictatorships! And at that time, it felt it was possible to achieve it.
Then, overnight, on 15th of August, everything collapsed. Decades of hard-won progress by Afghan women were erased in a single night.
After leaving Afghanistan, I arrived in the Netherlands. But I couldn’t stop thinking about all those young women my age in Afghanistan. I remember one girl in particular in Kabul—so full of life, so eager to learn. But, her family was pressuring her to marry. Her family was pressuring her to marry, but she resisted. And when I finally reached her, despite everything, she was still standing firm.
Today, the younger generation of women in Afghanistan live in fear—not only of the Taliban but the men from their families and communities. Child marriages, forced marriages, blood-price marriages have become the norm again in Afghanistan. This is the heartbreaking reality for Afghan girls today. They refuse to live without hope. They would rather die than accept a life without dreams and hopes.
For a few weeks—maybe a few months—the world paid attention to our problems and to the voices of Afghan women. The media told our stories. But then, silence. An insidious pessimism took hold. The world shrugged and said, “Of course women in Afghanistan have no rights—that’s just the way it is.”
But let me tell you—this is NOT normal what is happening today in 2025 in Afghanistan.
Afghan women are fighting back, both inside or outside of the country without international community support. In 2021, I founded the Young Afghan Women’s Movement to provide education, resources, and a platform for change. And despite the Taliban’s grip on power, we are making progress inside and outside of Afghanistan. Many young women still have access to the internet inside the country. They are eager to learn, and we are determined to teach them so that we do not lose another generation of women.
There is a famous saying: “If you educate a girl, you educate an entire education.” A mother will teach her sons and daughters. By investing in their education—even from afar—we are creating a ripple effect that will last for generations.
I have no doubt that Afghanistan’s long night will one day end. And after every dark night, the sun will rise.
Please stand with women of Afghanistan. They are resisting a dictatorship alone. Alone. They should not be forgotten, as they are fighting for our shared values of the free world.
So, on behalf of all the women of Afghanistan, especially the younger generation, I want to thank you.
17th Annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, U.N. Opening, Monday, February 17, 2025
Key Quotes from Dr. Massouda Jalal:
“Our achievements were not just personal successes, but a collective determination to build a more inclusive and democratic Afghanistan where women were not just participants, but decision makers.”
“It was about proving that women belong in politics. That we are capable of leading and shaping our nation’s future.”
“I lost my position at University, and yet I refuse to be silent.”
“I am ready to return to my beloved country Afghanistan the moment it is safe and we will never stop fighting for the future we deserve.”
“I will continue to fight for democracy, for justice, for the dignity of every Afghan woman, because we will not be erased. We will not be silenced.”
“Exile does not mean surrender.”
