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Afghanistan
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H.E. Manizha Bakhtari is a diplomat, lecturer, and author. She was formerly Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Nordic Countries (2009-2015) and served as the Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul (2007-2009). Prior to her diplomatic career, Ms. Bakhtari was renowned for her work on gender advocacy in the non-profit sector, namely with the Cooperation Center for Afghanistan. During her time there, she traveled across Afghanistan, aiming to implement global gender equality standards and raise awareness.Ms.Bakhtari received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Kabul University and her master’s degree from the University’s Persian Literature Department. She later served as a lecturer at her alma mater. Ms. Bakhtari has published hundreds of academic and journalistic articles, as well as seven academic books. Her most notable books, Jahan-e Delangize Khabar and Akhalq wa Huquq dar journalism were previously used as textbooks in the Journalism Faculty of Kabul University, and encompass her analysis on reporting methods in news media and her research on journalistic ethics and regulations. Ms. Bakhtari also writes fiction. Her short stories are often centered around the experiences of women and the socio-cultural dynamics of the Afghan society. In recent years, Ms. Bakhtari took up social work with the Salvation Army and Ishtar Women’s Resource Society in Vancouver, Canada where she employed harm reduction policies to resolve issues of homelessness, poverty, addiction, and domestic violence. Ms. Bakhtari is married to Naser Hotaki. They have four children Mariam Hotaki, Mustafa Kamal Hotaki, Nosheen Hotaki, and Parnian Hotaki. |
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Hosna Jalil, born on 27th March 1992 in Kabul, is the former Deputy Minister of Policy and Plan at the Ministry of Women's Affairs of I.R. Afghanistan. Her portfolio was focused on ensuring women’s equal access to services & resources across the country; empowering & integrating women across all sectors and providing them a safe and healthy environment; strengthening women’s role in peace & security; and strengthening the Ministry of Women's Affairs as the umbrella for all women related initiatives, engagements, and resource management. She aimed to work with, and for, women from villages to districts and major cities. She had previously served on Afghanistan’s National Defense and Security Forces as the Deputy Minister of Policy and Strategy at the Ministry of Interior Affairs of I.R. Afghanistan. Her portfolio priorities in this position included force development (Afghan National Police: From battlefields to guardianship); institutional development (provision of on-time & quality services to the forces); diversification and de-politicization of the forces; and promoting human rights values and women empowerment in the forces. Jalil has a proven track record of executive management as well as policy development, with 8 years of professional experience in a wide range of industries. Over the course of her career, Jalil has served as an analyst, chief executive officer, brand ambassador, and member of boards for different local and international organizations. Before joining the Ministry of Interior, she served at the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum of I.R. Afghanistan as head of Policy and Research Directorate, and President Ghani’s economic advisory department as an industry consultant. She holds a BSc in physics and received her master’s degree in business administration, majoring in management, from the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF). Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree in Strategic Security Studies, focusing on counterterrorism and irregular warfare at the US National Defense University. |
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Maria Bashir is a Licensed Attorney for the Bayad Adalat office alongside her role as Executive Director of the Afghan Women Unity Organization. She has significantly strengthened women’s human rights in Afghanistan through her prosecution and criminal investigation career. She has continuously fought to eliminate corruption and family violence, ensuring women in Afghanistan can fulfil their right to participate in public affairs. Ms Bashir is a well-known human rights defender, and thanks to her continuous efforts, violence against women and domestic violence has decreased in Herat province. As chief prosecutor general in Afghanistan’s Herat Province (2006-2014), Bashir investigated and solved corruption, violence against women, and child marriage cases. Before this, she directed research on trafficking offences (2005-6) and was a prosecutor for Herat Public Security Department (2001-2005). Recognising her work, the United States Department of State presented her with The International Women of Courage Award, and Time featured her in the 2011 Time 100, an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world composed by Time. Ms. Bashir graduated in Law at Kabul University and later underwent a year-long training in Kabul as a prosecutor. |
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Iraq
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Dr. Ibtisam is currently the Director General of the Protocol Department and was the Director-General of the Directorate of Women Empowerment at the Secretary-General for the Council of Ministers of Iraq. Motivated to join peacebuilding efforts by the execution of her husband under Saddam Hussein’s regime and her own prison sentence, in 2003 Dr. Ibtisam joined her local council before becoming a member of the provincial council of Baghdad, serving on the human rights and women’s rights committees. From 2006 (to present) Dr. Ibtisam began her current work as the Directorate-General at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers. Via her position, she has participated in several committees on women's and human rights. She also participated in the writing of the law for the disabled and people with special needs. Dr. Ibtisam is a member of a committee that advocates for the rights of the LGBTI community in Iraq. She is a member of the Committee for the Advancement of Iraqi Women. She participated in writing the strategy for the advancement of the status of Iraqi women. After Iraq signed the joint statement to address sexual violence during conflicts in 2016, Dr. Ibtisam became a i) High-level focal point for the Iraqi government with the United Nations Office on Sexual Violence; ii) Member of the Central Committee Combating Human trafficking; iii) Member of the report writing committee; iv) Director-General of the women empowerment department; v) National Coordinator for Iraq with the World Bank, amongst others. She graduated from the University of Baghdad, College of Dentistry in 1979 and has a private practice as a dentist. She was also trained in international law and human rights at the Italian Institute of San Remo and at the Center for International Human Rights in Oslo. |
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Dr. Ahmed Ali is an academic, a researcher, civil society and human rights activist, and a legal expert in civil rights and the protection of minorities andgroups with vulnerabilities. He is a university lecturer holding a Ph.D. in International Criminal Comparative Law from Cairo University, Egypt. He is a Judicial Investigator with more than 24 years of experience in judicial council, dealing with criminal cases in KRG since 1996. He is the founder and Head of the Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law (I.L.O.), which was launched in 2016. He is actively in touch and collaborates with various international agencies as a Member of the International Association for Prosecutors (the Hague / Netherlands), a legal expert in 1325 Security Council Resolution Alliance in Iraq, and as a legal consultant in the Accountability and Justice Task Force with UNAMI in the ISIL cases. He additionally collaborates with UNFPA, UNODC, NED, EURO-midi initiative, ESCWA, and UN Women. He conducts training for government staff, parliament members, judges, general prosecutor’s judicial council staff, civil society, and law enforcement institutions on the national action plan,1325 security council resolutions, and women empowerment. He moreover delivers training on monitoring and reporting of criminal procedures in women’s cases in courts of KRG, in line with international women and human rights conventions. He has participated in international conferences on gender justice and equality before the law, the implementation of legal domestic laws according to human trafficking crimes and counter-terrorism, international cooperation, organized crimes, interview investigations, and human rights. |
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Suzan Arif Marof was born in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Erbil, in June 1961. She has been a human rights activist since 1998, holding a bachelor’s degree in economics and administration from Cihan University, as well as an honorary doctorate in human rights from the International University for Preliminary’s Study. She is the founder and director of the Women Empowerment Organization since 2004, and the coordinator of Iraq task force (CSTF) 1325 since 2014, per the decree of the Iraqi Council of Ministers in 2017. Since 2012, she has played a leading role in ensuring a robust partnership between CSOs and the governments of Iraq and Kurdistan in developing the Iraqi National Action Plan 1325, which was adopted by both governments in 2014. Iraq subsequently became the first country in the MENA region to have a national action plan (NAP) for UNSCR 1325. In addition, she worked closely with the legal committee of the CSTF 1325 and pushed for the recognition and amendment of all the discriminatory laws and legislations in the personal status law and penal code. Since 2012, Suzan has been coordinating a large alliance of civil societies (Alliance 1325), which includes 40 NGOs, to support the development of the Iraqi NationalPlan and its implementation. Suzan has extensive experience in the field of women empowerment, national planning, gender mainstreaming in policies and plans, gender equality, women peace, and security agenda, as well as working as a consultant on women's issues and strategies for many national and international agencies in the region. |
Islamic Republic of Iran
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Fatemeh Javani is Head of the Office of International Organizations and Associations of International Affairs in the Ministry of Interior. In her area of responsibility, she follows and carries out relations with international and regional organizations, including work with UNICEF, UNESCO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UNHCR, UNAIDS, IOM, JICA, ECO etc. During her tenure, the number of interactions and cooperation documents exchanged between the Ministry of Interior and international organizations has increased. She is PhD student in sociology, working on a dissertation with a comparative study of the social protection of children in international documents and domestic procedures. She has been involved in social and international activities in the personal and business spheres, including: membership to the Working Group for the Development of AIDS Behavioral Regulations in Iran for NGOs by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and UN AIDS; the Management of Social transformation Committee (MOST) of the National Commission for UNESCO by order of the Minister of Science, Research and Technology; the National Committee of the First Meeting of the Heads of Civil Registration Organizations of the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC); the National Committee for Child-Friendly Cities; activism in the field of children and efforts to pave the way for the realization of children's rights at the national and local levels; teaching in university as a Master; writing books, articles and translating articles in the field of non-governmental organizations, child trafficking, women; and being active in the field of non-governmental organizations. |
Pakistan
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Huma Chughtai is a Governance, Human Rights and Gender Specialist with over 30 years of professional experience. She has served in various key positions within the government as well as in the development sector. She has worked as a Lawyer; an internationally trained Legislative Researcher in the Parliament of Pakistan focusing on Sharia law, constitutional, legal, and judicial issues, women’s rights, and parliamentary practices; and, as a Governance, Human Rights and Gender Specialist in various key capacities with international organizations. She has been Senior Program Manager (national lead) in the UNWOMEN (2007-09), and Key Expert in CB-MoWD Project of GIZ. Ms. Chughtai has a unique and rich experience of working in arena of governance, including parliamentary, judicial, electoral and gender reform, women, peace and security, gender and energy, and human rights. Currently, Ms. Chughtai is working with Federal Judicial Academy Islamabad, as Director Programs/Permanent Faculty, where she introduced new disciplines particularly relevant to International Human Rights obligations and role of judiciary in their implementation. She has also served as the Technical Advisor to the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus in the Parliament of Pakistan where she brought to the attention of women parliamentarians their role in domestication of international human rights obligations, as well as their role in peace processes. Her significant knowledge of Sharia and international human rights law enables her to link and counter radical arguments that fuel extremism. She is a master trainer on CEDAW, Women Peace & Security, and Gender & Energy. |
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Afshan Tehseen is a Human Rights Activist with a particular focus on Child Rights, Child Protection, Motivational Coaching, Youth Mentoring and Violence against Women. She is a dedicated development professional having more than 20 years of diversified experience. Her frequent appearance on media is on the topics of International Relations, Human Rights, Child Protection, Women Empowerment, and Social and Development Issues. Her key areas of expertise are Human Rights with particular focus on Gender and Development, Child Rights & Protection, Child Sexual Abuse, Child Protection in Emergencies, Disaster Risk Reduction, Diversion and Restorative Justice, Street Children, Children in Care institutions, Social Protection, Birth Registration, Child Labour, Communication for Development, Polio Eradication and last, but not least, Training and Capacity Building. The key organizations she has worked with include UNICEF, Save the Children-UK, International ActionAid, National Rural Support Programme. She is also former CEO of HRD Network and presently Chief Executive Officer of Human Capital Pakistan and nominated Mountain Ambassador for 2020 by DEVCOM. She is Role Model/Ambassador Pakistan Alliance on Girls Education. She is also Regional Gender Champion for Regional Women Leadership Network established by UNODC and Chairperson of National Commission on Child Rights (NCRC). |
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Naveed Ahmadi is a senior development professional and Founding CEO of Pakistan-based NGO CAMP. He has worked across a number of thematic areas including, conflict pre-emption and peace-building, Rule of Law, Human Rights (TIP and SOM), governance, youth and strengthening CSOs. In addition, with a strong focus on research and advocacy, Naveed has contributed to and authored numerous qualitative and quantitative research studies on issues of peacebuilding, migration, TIP and SOM, youth identity and political leadership, governance and access to justice in Pakistan. Naveed holds PhD in Social Anthropology and MSc in Social Research Methods from the School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, UK. Naveed also holds B.E Engineering degree from NED University, Pakistan, and IDHA from Fordham University, New York. |
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International Association for Women Police
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Ellie Bird-Lenawarunugu served as a police officer in West Midlands and British Transport Police over a period of more than thirty years. For more than half of her career, Ellie worked in an environment where opportunities for women were limited, with little prospect for promotion, performing specialist roles or having an influential voice to bring about change. Landmarks in her career include being the first female officer to attain the ranks of superintendent, chief superintendent and Area Commander. As Operational Commander for the London Underground she worked on all major public and sporting events in London. As Director of Intelligence her responsibility spanned England, Scotland and Wales. Between 2010 and 2014 Ellie served as Commander for Scotland, establishing credibility in tackling sectarianism and was the Head of Transport Security for the Commonwealth Games. Despite an incredible career; it has been the years since retirement that have been some of the most informative and influential. Ellie has delivered consultancy services in Rwanda, Uganda, Egypt and Kenya advising on sexual and gender-based violence, protection of women and children in refugee settlement and the role of women in peace support. For the past three years Ellie has performed an advisory role with the Commonwealth Parliamentarian Association on human trafficking. Ellie is currently Strategic Policing Advisor based in Mogadishu. Her marriage to Stephen and establishing their home within the pastoralist Samburu community in rural Kenya is yet another transformation in her life. |
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Jane Charles-Voltaire, Esq. is a Haitian-American legal professional, who has dedicated her work and education to advancing human rights, community development, and environmental sustainability. She currently works as a Senior Program Officer for IAWJ’s international development programs, which support women judges and prosecutors in providing leadership on anti-trafficking initiatives, improving access to justice for vulnerable victims of domestic violence, promoting gender equality within courts, and demanding justice and accountability for sexual violence survivors. Jane covers programs and collaborative initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Before joining the IAWJ, Jane worked in Haiti for four years as local counsel with a Haitian law firm for the United States Agency for International Development in Haiti (USAID). In her role as local counsel, Jane collaborated with Haitian government officials, international organization representatives to ensure that USAID objectives are properly addressed in accomplishing joint projects in social housing, environmental management, public finance management and port development. In addition, Jane has extensive on-the-ground experience through her work in the non-profit sector, she worked for two years with Viva Rio, an innovative Brazilian non-profit organization, based in Port-au-Prince and implementing projects in the health, community security, education and environment sectors. Jane earned her B.A. in Romance Languages and Literature from Wesleyan University and her J.D. from Temple University's Beasley School of Law. |
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