Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Nilofar Ayoubi is an Afghan women’s and human rights defender, journalist, entrepreneur, humanitarian advocate, and international speaker whose life reflects a lifelong commitment to freedom, equality, and women’s voices.
Growing up in conservative northern Afghanistan, Nilofar spent much of her childhood as bacha posh—a social phenomenon in which girls are raised and presented as boys, often for different reasons, including families without sons or without a male breadwinner. In Nilofar’s case, however, she became bacha posh simply because she wanted to experience the freedom and opportunities of a normal childhood—freedoms that were largely unavailable to girls around her. Under the name Zmaray, meaning “lion” in Pashto, she could move more freely, feel safer, and continue her education.
Living as a boy from an early age gave Nilofar firsthand experience of the stark differences between the freedoms afforded to boys and the restrictions placed on girls. That experience shaped her determination to create a society where girls would not have to hide who they are in order to access basic rights and opportunities.
She went on to become a journalist and entrepreneur, creating employment opportunities for many women, founding the Women’s Political Participation Network, and co-founding the #WhereIsMyName campaign. Her humanitarian work has included supporting hundreds of Afghan families during COVID-19 and helping relocate more than 200 people at high risk of persecution following the Taliban’s return to power.
After leaving Afghanistan in 2021, Nilofar continued her advocacy from exile, speaking internationally about Afghan women’s rights, democracy, independent media, and freedom. She has served as the CEO of Asia Times Afghanistan and is the co-founder of Radio Free Women, amplifying the voices of women increasingly excluded from public life.
From a girl who once lived as a boy simply to experience the freedoms of childhood, Nilofar has become a voice for women seeking the same freedom to live, speak, learn, and participate fully in society. Her journey reflects how a personal experience of inequality can become a lifelong commitment to creating greater freedom and opportunity for others.
@iranhrdc
#ThroughHerEyes
#InternationalDayOfTheGirl
#DayOfTheGirl
#NilofarAyoubi
#GenderApartheid
#Afghanistan
#HunmanRights
Growing up in conservative northern Afghanistan, Nilofar spent much of her childhood as bacha posh—a social phenomenon in which girls are raised and presented as boys, often for different reasons, including families without sons or without a male breadwinner. In Nilofar’s case, however, she became bacha posh simply because she wanted to experience the freedom and opportunities of a normal childhood—freedoms that were largely unavailable to girls around her. Under the name Zmaray, meaning “lion” in Pashto, she could move more freely, feel safer, and continue her education.
Living as a boy from an early age gave Nilofar firsthand experience of the stark differences between the freedoms afforded to boys and the restrictions placed on girls. That experience shaped her determination to create a society where girls would not have to hide who they are in order to access basic rights and opportunities.
She went on to become a journalist and entrepreneur, creating employment opportunities for many women, founding the Women’s Political Participation Network, and co-founding the #WhereIsMyName campaign. Her humanitarian work has included supporting hundreds of Afghan families during COVID-19 and helping relocate more than 200 people at high risk of persecution following the Taliban’s return to power.
After leaving Afghanistan in 2021, Nilofar continued her advocacy from exile, speaking internationally about Afghan women’s rights, democracy, independent media, and freedom. She has served as the CEO of Asia Times Afghanistan and is the co-founder of Radio Free Women, amplifying the voices of women increasingly excluded from public life.
From a girl who once lived as a boy simply to experience the freedoms of childhood, Nilofar has become a voice for women seeking the same freedom to live, speak, learn, and participate fully in society. Her journey reflects how a personal experience of inequality can become a lifelong commitment to creating greater freedom and opportunity for others.
@iranhrdc
#ThroughHerEyes
#InternationalDayOfTheGirl
#DayOfTheGirl
#NilofarAyoubi
#GenderApartheid
#Afghanistan
#HunmanRights