Hasina Jalal
Hasina Jalal is a women's rights and pro-democracy advocate, and an exiled scholar from Afghanistan, with over a decade of experience in policy advocacy, civil society engagement, and academic scholarship. She is recognized for her leadership in advancing gender equality, democratic governance, and human rights in post-conflict settings. In 2014, Jalal was elected by public vote to receive the "N-Peace Award" from the UN Secretary General's Special Advisor on the University for Peace and UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Office.
She has held senior positions in the Afghan government, including Research Team Lead and Policy Expert at the Presidential Palace and Policy Advisor and Director of Program Design and Donor Coordination at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, where she led initiatives in program design, donor coordination, and policy development. Jalal has also taught economics, political science, and human rights in both Afghanistan and the United States, and has co-founded and led several civil society organizations, including the National Association of Afghanistan Civil Society (NAACS) and the South Asian Women’s Alliance for Women’s Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (SAFA). She is a member of the New University in Exile Consortium and a Fellow of the Pittsburgh Network for Threatened Scholars, advocating for Afghan women’s rights and democracy from exile.
Born into a family of principled champions of democracy, Hasina’s commitment to human rights and social justice is rooted in her parents’ lifelong struggle against authoritarianism and extremism. Her mother, Massouda Jalal, Afghanistan’s first female presidential candidate and former Minister of Women’s Affairs, endured imprisonment under the Taliban for advancing women’s education and employment, while her father, Faizullah Jalal, a former law and political science professor, faced repeated persecution for his advocacy of democracy. This family legacy of sacrifice and resistance continues to shape Hasina’s commitment to justice and equality.
Forced to seek asylum in the United States following the Taliban takeover in 2021, Hasina continues to amplify Afghan women’s voices internationally, influencing policy and public discourse. Fluent in multiple languages, including Dari, Pashto, English, Turkish, Hindi/Urdu, and proficient in Punjabi, Arabic, and Uzbek, she has received numerous fellowships and international awards, including the UN N-Peace Award, "Global Women Leadership Award" by the World-CSR, "Iconic Women Creating a Better World for All Award" by the Women's Economic Forum, and recognition as one of the “45 Most Influential Afghan Women.”
Advocating for Afghan Girls’ and Women’s Rights
Our work is rooted in a simple belief: Afghan women and girls deserve dignity, freedom, and equal opportunity. Founded by Hasina Jalal, this is a transnational volunteer-based collective grounded in solidarity with Afghan women and girls facing systemic oppression and exclusion. We come together across borders to share stories, support one another, and challenge the barriers that silence women’s and girls’ voices.
Through education, advocacy, and everyday acts of resistance and care, we work alongside communities and allies to uplift voices and push back against injustice. Staying connected, engaging with our work, and supporting us across digital platforms helps keep Afghan women’s and girls’ voices visible. Every share, every message of solidarity, and every act of support—on the ground and online—strengthens this shared path toward justice and equality.
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