Afghan girl wins children's peace prize for singing motivation

Afghan girl wins children's peace prize for singing motivation

A 17-year-old who is not allowed to speak publicly in her own country has won a renowned international award for her commitment to the rights of Afghan girls.

Nila Ibrahimi receives the international child peace price

Nila Ibrahimi was awarded the international child peace price on Tuesday, a prize that has already honored personalities such as the climate activist Greta Thunberg and the educational campaign for girls, Malala Yousafzai. Ibrahimi received the award for her "brave commitment to the rights of girls" in Afghanistan, where women are silenced by the oppressive rules of the Taliban regime, which took over in 2021.

The way of activism

Before the Taliban seizure of power, Ibrahimi obtained an online supporter by using her voice to put pressure on the educational institutions in Kabul, to lift a ban that prohibited school girls in singing. Ibrahimi filmed herself while singing and her brother set the video on social media. The "Iammysong" campaign was quickly accepted, and within a few weeks the ban was lifted.

A call for the young girls of Afghanistan

"That was the first time that I thought, wow. If I really want it, if I think this is the way I want to live, I can raise my voice and that can be accepted," she said in a video address.

campaign from Canada

brahimi was 15 years old when the Taliban in Kabul took power after the chaotic withdrawal of the United States and its allies, who were in the country for 20 years. With the help of the 30 Birds Foundation Floh Ibrahimi to Pakistan and finally to Canada, where she continues for Afghan girls.

foundation of "Her Story"

She is a co-founder of "Her Story" encourages the Afghan girls to share their stories and to illuminate the voices of those who are still in Afghanistan. "Every single day I think of the girls who were left in Afghanistan without hope. In Canada I make decisions about my life and hug the person I want to be, but what about them?" Said Ibrahimi in a speech at the Geneva summit for human rights and democracy last year.

The effects of Taliban rule

After seizing through the Taliban, they closed schools for girls over 12 years. Girls and women are no longer allowed to study or work and can only leave the house accompanied by a male relative. They are not allowed to speak in public and have to cover themselves from head to toe, with their eyes lowered, to avoid accusations in relation to indecency. They are excluded from the use of parks, gyms and other public institutions and are not allowed to travel without permission.

international reactions to human rights violations

These restrictions are a dramatic return to the freedoms that have been achieved in the two decades since the last Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Last week, the Taliban carried out a public execution that was convicted by high-ranking UN representatives who demanded an immediate end of such practices. The UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, described the execution as "clear violation of human rights". Bennett was banished by the Taliban from Afghanistan, which accuse him of spreading propaganda.

allegations for discrimination

Germany, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands have accused the Hardliner Islamist group to violate the UN Convention to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. The Taliban have previously stated that it was "absurd" to accuse Afghan leaders of gender discrimination. "Human rights are protected in Afghanistan and nobody is discriminated against," said spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat.