Dr. Zakira Hekmat, director of ARSA, attended International Women's Day events upon the invitation of Ambassador Michele Taylor, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council. The program, organized by the U.S. Mission in Geneva, aimed to honor women activists working in the field of women's rights in different countries.

The program began with Ambassador Michele Taylor's opening speech and continued with a video message from U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden in celebration of International Women's Day on March 8. Subsequently, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, highlighted the significance of March 8 and drew attention to human rights violations worldwide. Following these, Dr. Zakira Hekmat, President of ARSA and Director of the Turkey Refugee Council, discussed the current situation in Afghanistan and the challenges faced by women and girls.

Hekmat emphasized, 'Afghanistan is not a safe country for women, children, and minority groups; perhaps it is the most unsafe country in the world. In 2024, we see girls being denied education solely based on their gender, making Afghanistan the only country in the world where all activities for women are prohibited. Consequently, people are forced to migrate and seek refuge in other countries. Afghan women and girls expect the international community not to forget them and await genuine action.'

The program was attended by ambassadors from 90 different countries, as well as institutions and individuals working in the field of human rights.

During the program, Dr. Hekmat participated in five additional events:

  1. Meeting with Michele Taylor: Dr. Hekmat discussed the challenges and restrictions faced by Afghan women, girls, and Middle Eastern refugees with Michele Taylor, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council.
  2. United Kingdom Geneva Mission Meeting: Dr. Hekmat was invited to a program organized by the UK Geneva Mission to draw attention to the situation of Afghan women and girls. The program, initiated by Simon Manley, the UK Permanent Representative to the UN, began with an opening speech, followed by the presentation of the outcomes of a report prepared by UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. The meeting included Afghan women activists, ambassadors, and individuals working in the field of human rights.
  3. Meeting with UNHCR Asia Regional Representative Aurvasi Patel: In a meeting with urvasi Patel, the UNHCR Regional Representative for Asia, the situation of Afghan women and children and the challenges faced by refugees in the Middle East were discussed. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for international attention and effective intervention in the unstable and challenging conditions faced by refugees in the region. Issues such as inadequate access to basic services like health and education and mistreatment by local authorities were raised, emphasizing the importance of addressing the problems faced by refugees and prioritizing their humanitarian needs.
  4. Meeting with the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Sheba Crocker: Dr. Hekmat discussed ARSA activities and programs related to women's rights with Ambassador Sheba Crocker.
  5. Participation in the program organized by the United Nations Human Rights Council: The program addressed the experiences and challenges of being an Afghan woman, including the life stories of Afghan women athletes. The session concluded with a question-and-answer session.

In addition to these significant meetings, Dr. Hekmat also held separate discussions with Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, as well as ambassadors from Canada and Australia at the UN.