Forced to flee their country after the Taliban take-over in 2021, four Afghan women leaders struggle to keep the world’s attention on the unfolding crisis in Afghanistan, while coming to terms with what it means to have their power usurped and two decades of progress dismantled. From their distant exile-countries these four female leaders – past parliamentarians, ministers and journalists – watch the Taliban strip women and girls of the right to be educated, to work and to participate in society. No longer in positions of influence, they are forced to reinvent themselves to continue the fight for a free and just Afghanistan.

When the world’s attention has turned to the next headline and even the greatest superpower has admitted defeat, can these women succeed?

“A must-see for all, but especially for anyone who believes this kind of gender apartheid could never happen here.” (Original Cin)

Saturday, October 12
Doors 10:30 am | Event 11:00 am *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.
Tickets HERE

Tahira Khalili  – Tahira is Women Leaders of Tomorrow’s scholarship recipient. She was awarded a full-ride scholarship to study at the Crofton House School in Vancouver after the Taliban returned in power, and shut down all girls’ schools above third and sixth grade. After successfully graduating from the secondary school, she has received a full scholarship for undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year Tahira plans to study biology, health sciences and other prerequisite courses prior to applying to medical school.

Homaira Saqib – Humaira is a journalist and prominent human rights activist with a strong commitment to social justice, gender equality, peace, and freedom of speech. With over a decade of experience in the field, Humaira is widely recognized for her exceptional work advocating for women’s rights and raising awareness on critical social issues. She is the Director of the Afghan Women’s News Agency, established in 2009 as the first women’s news agency in Afghanistan. Her agency publishes women’s news, advocacy, capacity-building, and awareness-raising. Throughout her career, Humaira has held several leadership positions in the civil society sector, including Chairperson of the Afghan Women Network in Urban Governance, Founder of the International Monitoring Network for Human Rights, and Chairperson of the Afghan Civil Society Joint Working Group. She has also conducted essential research, including a study on the role of women in parliamentary and presidential elections with the Women’s Regional Network (WRN). 

Friba Rezayee – Friba is the founder and the Executive Director of Women Leaders of Tomorrow and its leadership in sports project GOAL (Girls of Afghanistan Lead). She was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan. At the age of 18, she made history by competing in Judo at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens as Afghanistan’s first ever female Olympic athlete. 

AN UNFINISHED JOURNEY (Aeyliya Husain & Amie Williams, 2024 / 75 mins / NR) Four Afghan women leaders are forced to flee their country after risking their lives to rebuild it. In exile they struggle to mount an international women’s movement to pressure world leaders to collapse the as yet unrecognized Taliban government, while coming to terms with what it means to have their power usurped and two decades of progress dismantled.

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