Suraya Pakzad, A Brave Woman from Afghanistan Who Fights for Women's Rights

By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam

15 December 2025

Suraya Pakzad, a courageous Afghan women's rights activist, founded the Voice of Women organisation in 1998, secretly providing education, shelters, legal aid, and vocational training amid Taliban bans. Forced into exile in Germany after 2021, she continues advocating for women's rights and empowerment.

Key points:

·         Founded Voice of Women organisation secretly in 1998 for women's education under Taliban.

·         Provided shelters, legal aid, and counselling for violence victims.

·         Offering vocational training for women's self-reliance.

·         Received international awards like Women of Courage (2008).

·         Forced into exile in 2021; continues advocacy from Germany.

"We will not give up our fight for women's right to education, work, and livelihood [in Afghanistan]. We will fight back, even if we have to go underground." Suraya Pakzad

The plight of women in Afghanistan is no secret; they have had to struggle hard for their rights and education.

Political instability, fundamentalism, conservative thinking, and a war-torn environment have created adverse conditions for women's development, hindering their natural growth.

Many women leaders in Afghanistan have spoken out for women's rights and taken concrete steps for their overall development.

Suraya Pakzad is one such vocal women's rights activist from Afghanistan who has brought this issue to international attention.

Suraya Pakzad was born in Herat, Afghanistan in 1968. She grew up in a family where women were provided with equal education and opportunities as men. Suraya's father provided her with educational opportunities.

 

Her family's progressive thinking also inspired her to work for the interests of other women. On women's rights, Suraya Pakzad believes that

"Women's rights are not just laws on paper; they are essential components of a healthy and stable society."

Founding of "Voice of Women" (VOW)

In 1998, when Taliban rule was expanding in Afghanistan and women's education was banned, Suraya Pakzad secretly established schools and education for women. This was a highly risky undertaking, but she continued to work for the welfare of women, regardless of her own life.

Describing this risky work, she said, "Courage does not mean not feeling afraid; courage means acting despite fear."

Although "VOW" was secretly founded in 1998, it was officially announced in 2001.When the fundamentalist Taliban government fell in 2001, Suraya Pakzad made her work public, officially registered VOW, and began working on various fronts for women.

The primary work of VOW is to provide safe shelter to women and girls who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or forced marriage. VOW provides these women with protection, shelter, and a chance for a new beginning.

Suraya Pakzad's organisation provides legal rights and representation to women who are victims of various types of violence. They educate women about their rights and work to ensure that their cases are heard fairly in the judiciary.

VOW emphasises women's self-reliance. They provide training in sewing, knitting, computer literacy, and other livelihood skills, so that women can become financially independent and self-reliant.

The organisation provides psychosocial counselling and support groups to help women victims of domestic violence and other cases overcome mental and physical trauma, improving their mental health and enabling them to return to mainstream society and live their lives smoothly.

VOW campaigns to raise awareness about women's rights in Afghan society. They worked closely with the government and policymakers to implement and strengthen laws protecting women's rights and provide basic services and protection to women.

The situation has changed significantly since the Taliban government returned to power in 2021. After the Taliban regained control of Kabul in August 2021, Suraya Pakzad was forced to leave Afghanistan due to threats to her life.

She currently lives in exile in Germany, where she continues her work advocating for Afghan women's rights and for VOW.

In an interview, Suraya Pakzad explained that the Taliban raided the offices of her organisation, "Voice of Women" (VOW), confiscated all office equipment, and harassed her colleagues and family members. Therefore, VOW is forced to resume its work within Afghanistan, just as it did during the first Taliban regime in the late 1990s.

Hurt by the indifferent attitude of various countries on the situation of women in Afghanistan at the international level, Suraya Pakzad said,

"The international community talked about democracy and human rights in Afghanistan for 20 years, but when the most difficult time came, they abandoned us."

Suraya Pakzad has been awarded numerous awards and honours for her tireless work on behalf of women.

Awards and Honours

Suraya Pakzad has received numerous international awards for her courage and activism, including the International Women of Courage Award presented by the US Secretary of State (then Condoleezza Rice) in 2008.

She was awarded the Malali Medal by the President of Afghanistan in 2008.

In 2009, she was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine, praising her for her "courageous and tireless" work.

The magazine specifically noted that she is among those for whom the fight for women's rights can even prove fatal. She received the Clinton Global Citizen Award in 2010. In 2011, she was named one of the 150 "Women Who Shake the World" by Newsweek.

We hope that in the future Suraya Pakzad can once again work actively for the welfare of the women of Afghanistan and for their rights.

Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession who writes on women, politics, communal harmony, and Islam. She holds a master’s degree in Education.

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-human-rights/suraya-pakzad-women-rights-/d/138004

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