To mark International Women’s Day 2025, the Afghanistan & Central Asian Association (ACAA) convened a powerful and timely panel discussion at the UK Parliament. The event brought together an inspiring group of women, refugees, politicians, campaigners, journalists and academics, to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of refugee women in the UK and call for greater action to support women still trapped under regimes of oppression, particularly in Afghanistan.
While the day honoured the resilience and achievements of women who have rebuilt their lives in the UK, it also carried a clear and urgent message: more must be done.
A Platform for Action
This year’s panel went beyond celebration — it was a call to conscience. It offered a platform for Afghan women and other refugee voices to speak openly about the barriers they face, both in their countries of origin and upon arrival in the UK. Panellists highlighted how systems of exclusion — from education bans in Afghanistan to the UK’s hostile environment — continue to hold women back.
Despite these challenges, the speakers demonstrated the remarkable strength and leadership of refugee women, underscoring their vital role in community life, public service, and national debates on integration, human rights, and international solidarity.
Speakers Included:
• Charley Young MBE, Co-Founder of The Girls’ Network, on the transformative power of mentorship and breaking cycles of inequality.
• Pam Cox MP, reflecting on the UK’s political responsibility to protect refugee rights and champion women’s safety and empowerment.
• Dr Nooralhaq Nasimi MBE, Founder of ACAA, speaking on the dire state of women’s rights in Afghanistan and the urgent need for international accountability.
• Jenny Walton, Head of Policy at The Girls’ Network, on policy interventions to ensure girls from refugee backgrounds are not left behind.
• Salma Abdelaziz, CNN journalist, highlighting media’s role in amplifying the voices of women in conflict zones and reporting from the frontlines.
• Samaneh Gheysari, campaigner, on the gendered trauma of displacement and the strength of collective organising.
• Fazila Husseini, Afghan activist, sharing her journey from escaping persecution to becoming a voice for the silenced.
• Sheekeba Nasimi, legal trainee and ACAA trustee, speaking on the necessity of legal and educational empowerment.
• Gulalai Nuristani, advocate and educator, on preserving Afghan women’s cultural identity in exile.
• Deborah Lovett, leadership coach, offering insights into confidence-building and women’s visibility in public life.
• Professor Amena Memon, University of London, discussing the psychological toll of displacement and the importance of trauma-informed care.
Moderated by Rabia Nasimi
Key Messages:
Speakers consistently emphasised four core messages:
• Afghan women are facing one of the worst human rights crises in the world today. Girls are banned from schools and universities. Women are excluded from work, politics, and public life. This is a gender apartheid — and the UK cannot stay silent.
• Refugee women are leaders, not victims. Many have overcome extraordinary challenges to rebuild their lives, raise families, and contribute to British society. They must be recognised not only as beneficiaries of support but as agents of change.
• UK policies must be bolder. The government must do more to offer safe routes, uphold its resettlement commitments, and ensure that women fleeing persecution can access the support they need to thrive in the UK.
• There is strength in solidarity. The importance of women supporting women, across borders and backgrounds, was a powerful thread throughout the event.
ACAA’s Commitment
At ACAA, we remain committed to standing with Afghan women — both those who are rebuilding their lives in the UK and those still trapped under Taliban rule. As an organisation founded by refugees, we know that platforms like these are critical: not only to inform, but to influence.
We call on Parliamentarians, policymakers and the public to act. That means sustained funding for refugee services, stronger refugee protections, and a serious international strategy to address the ongoing repression in Afghanistan.