Zarqa Yaftali, an advocate for girls’ education and head of the Research and Advocacy Network for Afghan Women and Children, has been named one of the winners of the Sheikh Zayed Award for Human Fraternity for 2026.
In a statement, the award’s organizers said that Yaftali was honored for providing educational resources and psychosocial support to more than 100,000 girls and children in Afghanistan.
The statement noted that Yaftali’s efforts have helped create hope and access to education for girls living in restrictive environments.
In response to receiving the award, Ms. Yaftali said she was deeply moved and described it as a meaningful message for Afghan women.
She emphasized that the award gives hope and courage to students enrolled in online schools and to women participating in peace, security, and leadership programs.
The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 4 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
The Zayed Award is named in honor of Sheikh Zayed, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, and is presented annually to individuals or institutions that have made significant contributions to promoting peace, human solidarity, and coexistence.
The award comes at a time when, following the return of the current authorities to power in Afghanistan, female students have been banned from attending schools and universities until further notice.
These restrictions have placed a new generation of Afghan girls at risk of being deprived of education and facing reduced employment and social opportunities.
Human rights activists have repeatedly expressed serious concern about the educational and social future of girls in Afghanistan and have called for the lifting of restrictions on girls’ education.
