Co-founder and Director, Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies, Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, women represent nearly 28 percent of the national parliament. Although gender equality has improved since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, Afghan women still face several barriers including the required male escorts and permission to work. If these traditional societal practices are not respected, their safety may be threatened. The April 2014 presidential and 2015 parliamentary elections provide an important opportunity for women across Afghanistan to continue to increase their participation in public life and to demonstrate that women serve an integral role in national development. Mariam Safi is one of the few female Afghan experts who focuses on human and legal security from a grassroots and gender perspective. A published author, she has written and contributed to several publications focused on protecting the rights of women to participate in public life. A recent article entitled, “Struggling for Representation in the Peace Process” was printed in Peace Policy, a journal produced by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Her research is used to formulate recommendations for the Afghan government, the international community, civil society organizations, and universities. Safi has a master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the United Nations Mandated University for Peace and is currently a scholar at the University of Sussex.
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
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Mariam Safi
March 25, 2014
Co-founder and Director, Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies, Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, women represent nearly 28 percent of the national parliament. Although gender equality has improved since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, Afghan women still face several barriers including the required male escorts and permission to work. If these traditional societal practices are not respected, their safety may be threatened. The April 2014 presidential and 2015 parliamentary elections provide an important opportunity for women across Afghanistan to continue to increase their participation in public life and to demonstrate that women serve an integral role in national development. Mariam Safi is one of the few female Afghan experts who focuses on human and legal security from a grassroots and gender perspective. A published author, she has written and contributed to several publications focused on protecting the rights of women to participate in public life. A recent article entitled, “Struggling for Representation in the Peace Process” was printed in Peace Policy, a journal produced by the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Her research is used to formulate recommendations for the Afghan government, the international community, civil society organizations, and universities. Safi has a master’s degree in International Peace Studies from the United Nations Mandated University for Peace and is currently a scholar at the University of Sussex.
Diplomatic Courier honors the Top Global Women who have worked to improve the world. Download the entire list here.
