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Home Stories 2024, Nila Ibrahimi (17), Afghanistan

2024, Nila Ibrahimi (17), Afghanistan

Nila Ibrahimi is a tireless advocate for the rights of girls in Afghanistan. She discovered the power of her voice when the Kabul Education Directorate decided to ban schoolgirls from singing in public. Refusing to be silenced, Nila led a singing movement by recording a powerful protest song online herself. Her singing video in Afghanistan, which went viral, inspired thousands of girls to claim their rights and resist discrimination. Nila's courageous vocal activism forced the then-Afghan government to reverse the discriminatory decision within three weeks.

Nila’s life changed drastically at the age of fourteen when the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. She fled with her family to Pakistan and later to Canada. Since then, Nila has been actively committed to protecting the rights of girls from Afghanistan. For instance, she has advocated with various influential figures for equal access to education for Afghan women and girls. Her advocacy helped more than four thousand girls in Afghanistan gain access to alternative educational opportunities. She has been the voice of Afghan girls at various events, including the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, the British House of Lords, the Canadian Women for Women of Afghanistan Montreal Summit , and TED in Vancouver.

Nila co-founded “Her Story”, an initiative to provide a safe platform for Afghan girls to share their stories. Through Her Story, Nila highlights the potential and resilience of Afghan girls, both inside and outside of Afghanistan. She is fighting for the education rights of all Afghan girls and women who are losing out on valuable schooling due to the discriminatory ban on their education.

"There are millions of girls who have been displaced and, just like the girls in Afghanistan, have no access to education, but they persevere in their struggle. They have not given up. This resilience is what I want to highlight among Afghan girls. This deserves support, appreciation, and attention."

- NILA IBRAHIMI, 2024 WINNER INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S PEACE PRIZE

Nila's protest song

Watch the video

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