Suraya Mohammadi, an advocate for girls’ education and a survivor of the attack on the Seyed al-Shuhada girls’ school in western Kabul, has won the “Women Changing the World” award among more than 1,500 nominees from 97 countries.
A statement announced that the final results of this program were revealed during the Global Women Changing the World Awards ceremony in Paris, France.
The statement mentioned that this award is given to women who, despite structural barriers, create meaningful changes in their communities through leadership, innovation, human rights advocacy, and social impact.
Suraya Mohammadi, a survivor of the devastating suicide attack on Seyed al-Shuhada girls’ school in western Kabul in 2021, stated that her experience of losing friends in that attack transformed her perspective on education and social justice.
This education advocate emphasized that her activities primarily focus on girls’ education, literacy, and raising awareness about women’s rights.
Additionally, Suraya Mohammadi has previously received the PACEY award for youth initiatives, participated in the “International Week of Prayer for Global Peace” as a representative of Afghan Muslims, and was awarded the Wilson Hinkes Peace Prize for her work in girls’ education.
She has received this award at a time when the current government, after taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education and learning opportunities. In its latest restriction, it has closed medical institutes to girls and women, despite the healthcare sector across Afghanistan facing a shortage of personnel.
This government’s actions have resulted in millions of schoolgirls being denied education and learning opportunities.
Furthermore, women have been banned from going to sports clubs, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even in United Nations offices in Afghanistan.
