Dr. Sima Samar, the Chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and inspirational keynote speaker, is a courageous woman fighting to win greater freedoms for Afghan people.
Dr. Samar fled Afghanistan in 1984, after her husband was arrested and killed during the Soviet invasion. Since then she has been fighting for the rights of women and children suffering under Soviet repression and subsequent Taliban rule. Over the years, Dr. Samar opened many clinics, hospitals and schools for women and children– dangerous pursuits under the Taliban regime.
Following U.S. President Barack Obama’s announcement to withdraw all American troops from Afghanistan by 2014, activists, including Dr. Samar, are concerned about the future of Afghanistan’s stability. In recent interviews and speeches, Dr. Samar has emphasized the U.S. and Western nations’ moral obligations toward Afghanistan.
Regardless of foreign support, she vows to continue to fight for democracy, the presence of Afghan women in government and the reconstruction of civil society in Afghanistan.
In an interview with BBC Hard Talk, Dr. Samar said:
“Human rights is a universal value… women’s rights is human rights– there is no difference between the two. We are not only focusing on women’s rights, we are focusing on human rights in the country. Everyone should have the right to education and a better life.”
To book Dr. Samar for your upcoming event, give us a call at 416-420-4525 or be in touch via our site.