Launch of the Friends of Afghan Women Network

It has been a significant first few months for the Friends of Afghan Women Network.

Our formal launch on 13th November 2024 brought together an inspiring group of journalists, politicians, activists, and business leaders in the House of Commons, to review together the dire challenges faced by women in Afghanistan today.

In addition to remarks from our co-founders, we heard from a diverse and distinguished group of speakers and allies: Eleanor Sanders, the UK’s Human Rights Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva; Wendy Morton MP, Shadow Minister of State for International Development; and Christina Lamb, Chief Foreign Correspondent for The Sunday Times and joint author of I Am Malala. Their powerful words shed light on the repression of Afghan women and underscored the grave need for global action.

Aside from sparking honest discussions about the latest restrictions on Afghan women’s rights since September, it provided a hopeful glimpse into the huge range of expertise, ideas and opportunities available to us here, to make a difference. It also helped crystallise FAWN’s chief priority: to create a source of agency and community for Afghan women during an unimaginably distressing and uncertain time. Amid the loss of their voices, it’s critical that we use ours.

This is just the beginning of our work. To register your interest in being a part of the programme that we plan to roll out in 2025, just visit our form here.