The Taliban ordered the closure of our workshop and we had to stop. After the closure of the workshop, I broke down and suffered for several days. But soon I got up again and started all over again at home.
It is an uphill battle. I just hope that this darkness will be removed…

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“What keeps me going is the young girls who I meet, and their bravery and courage.” — Malala Yousafzai

“I have not recovered, my family has not recovered...I don’t think life will ever be the same.”

Young women & their families in Kaduna State, Nigeria reflect on past — & recent — student kidnappings in their community & share how it has impacted their mental health ⬇️

'Afghan refugees in Pakistan display remarkable resilience & determination. I will always do my best to raise Afghan girls’ voices & work hard for my dreams.”

14-year-old Mahtab reflects on starting life again as an Afghan refugee in Pakistan ➡️ mala.la/3VRsu2r

1/2 The shift to madrassas in Afghanistan limits educational options for girls and boys. Prioritising Taliban's narrow religious curriculum denies access to essential subjects, undermining autonomy and future prospects of a diverse workforce in a globally connected world.

We wish you peace, prosperity and happiness this Eid al-Fitr.
عيد مبارك
Selamat Hari Raya Idul Fitri
عید مبارک
ঈদ মোবারক

🎨: Devina Jain

“When I practise these moves, I feel a surge of power inside me. I don’t have any fear.”

With every punch and kick, young women in Mumbai are building self confidence — and sisterhood — through martial arts. reasonstobecheerful.world/workshops-teac…

A small thing can sometimes change the trajectory of your life. For 14-year-old student Dilawaiz, a bicycle changed hers.

She reflects on how being gifted a bicycle helped her to gain confidence in herself and challenge societal expectations👇🏽

The Taliban’s oppression of women is apartheid, Melanne Verveer, Karima Bennoune and Lina write.

Let’s call it that. wapo.st/49oos4O

Goal 👉🏽 Gender apartheid is recognised as a crime under Int'l. Law

Key progress from this week's UN sixth committee meetings 👇🏽

1. Members discussed the proposed crimes against humanity treaty, which would define & formalise what makes a criminal act a crime against humanity.

'We see in Afghanistan how the Taliban is exploiting a twisted interpretation of Islam to enforce its gender apartheid regime. My faith guides me to know that it is wrong to deliberately and systematically oppress girls and women.” — Malala via Teen Vogue
teenvogue.com/story/malala-y…

👏 A huge thank you to Austria for explicitly naming gender apartheid as a consideration for future amendments. This significant step highlights a commitment to gender equality and signals much needed solidarity to Afghan women and girls Austria UN

For over two years, girls in Afghanistan have told us about life under Taliban rule. Now things have only gotten worse.

Afghan activists are asking us to raise awareness on gender apartheid in Afghanistan & support its codification as a crime under international law. ⬇️

Penny Andrews, a South African anti-apartheid expert & professor of law, draws from her knowledge of racial apartheid in her country when she advocates to include gender apartheid in international law — something leaders have the opportunity to help mobilise this week at the #UN .

To learn more about the importance of codifying gender apartheid in the UN crimes against humanity treaty, read this article by human rights lawyers and legal scholars akila radhakrishnan Sareta Ashraph,Gissou Nia | گیسو نیا, Nushin Sarkarati and Alyssa Yamamoto: justsecurity.org/89193/why-the-…

Sahar Halaimzai leads Malala Fund’s Afghanistan Initiative. This week, she will be sharing her thoughts on the UN Sixth Committee meetings and how they shape out.

Follow Sahar Halaimzai for the latest.