A 17-year-old girl, who is prohibited from speaking publicly in her homeland, has earned global recognition by winning a distinguished international award for championing the rights of Afghan girls.
Nila Ibrahimi was awarded the International Children’s Peace Prize on Tuesday. This prestigious honor has previously been bestowed upon prominent figures like climate activist Greta Thunberg and girls’ education advocate Malala Yousafzai.
Ibrahimi was recognized for her “brave efforts to advocate for girls’ rights” in Afghanistan, a nation where women have been silenced under the restrictive policies of the Taliban, who took control in 2021.
Prior to the Taliban’s takeover, Ibrahimi had gained attention online by campaigning against a ban imposed by Kabul’s education authorities that prevented schoolgirls from singing publicly. Her campaign, known as “IAmMySong,” began with her recording a video of herself singing, which her brother then shared on social media. The movement gained momentum quickly, and within weeks, the ban was revoked.
Reflecting on this success, Ibrahimi remarked in a video statement, “That was the first moment I realized that if I truly want something and believe in it, I can raise my voice, and it will be heard.”
Continuing Her Advocacy from Abroad
Ibrahimi was just 15 when the Taliban took control of Kabul, following the withdrawal of U.S. and allied forces after two decades of occupation. With the Taliban’s return to power, the country reverted to strict theocratic rule.
With support from the 30 Birds Foundation, Ibrahimi and her family escaped Afghanistan, first relocating to Pakistan and later settling in Canada. From there, she continues her mission to advocate for Afghan girls.
She co-founded an initiative called “Her Story,” which provides a platform for Afghan girls to share their experiences and amplify the voices of those still in Afghanistan.
Speaking at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy last year, Ibrahimi said, “Every single day, I think of the girls left behind in Afghanistan, trapped without hope. Here in Canada, I have the freedom to make choices about my life and work towards becoming the person I aspire to be, but what about them?”
Taliban’s Oppression of Women
Since taking power, the Taliban have enacted policies that severely restrict women’s rights. Girls over the age of 12 are barred from attending school, and teenage girls and women are prohibited from pursuing education or employment. Women can only leave their homes if accompanied by a male relative, must adhere to strict dress codes that cover them entirely, and cannot speak publicly. Public spaces such as parks and gyms are also off-limits, and women cannot travel without explicit permission.
These rules mark a stark regression from the relative freedoms women had gained over the two decades following the Taliban’s previous rule.
Recently, the Taliban faced widespread criticism after conducting a public execution. Senior United Nations officials called for an immediate halt to such actions, with Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur to Afghanistan, condemning the execution as a blatant “violation of human rights.” Bennett, who has been barred from entering Afghanistan by the Taliban, was accused by the group of spreading false information.
Countries such as Germany, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands have accused the Taliban of breaching the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. However, the Taliban have dismissed these allegations, with spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat claiming, “Human rights are respected in Afghanistan, and there is no discrimination against anyone.”
The International Children’s Peace Prize is a prestigious global award that recognizes exceptional efforts by children to promote and advocate for children’s rights. Established in 2005 by the Dutch organization KidsRights Foundation, the prize aims to honor young individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the lives of children or advancing social justice, equality, and education.
The International Children’s Peace Prize is awarded annually in The Hague, Netherlands, in the presence of influential global leaders, further amplifying the voice and mission of the young recipient.