Taking place on Monday 17th October 2022, Rahela Trust and Professors at the University of Cambridge have joined forces to host our second Afghan Diaspora Academic Conference.

The conference involves high-level European conversations sponsored by the Refugee Council, with leading academics from across the Afghan diaspora outlining strategies international allies and the diaspora can adopt to facilitate Afghan women’s education and fight for human rights.

If you’re interested to attend email us at info@rahelatrust.org.

Afghanistan’s fall to the Taliban in August 2021 is working to eradicate 20 years of progress in the fight for women’s rights and academic development. Women’s liberties have been severely restricted, their human rights disregarded and paths to economic freedom curtailed. Afghan women who attempt to exercise their right to participate in civic life face the risk of violent persecution.

This conference will outline research produced by academics across the European Afghan diaspora. With an aim to not lose another generation of intelligent female minds to the Taliban and provide a source of hope to Afghan women, topics range from the options for remote learning and best-practice community-based education to barriers to effective collaboration and investment opportunities. This event seeks to consider how we can strengthen the power of Afghan women to establish the political and social changes they wish to see.

Confirmed speakers include ex-Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Dr Rangin Dadfar Spanta, Fawzia Koofi, Shukria Barakzai and more.