In this episode, we’re joined by Fatema D. Ahmadi, a proficient human rights advocate with over a decade of experience working on the frontlines of gender-based violence, human trafficking, and peacebuilding in Afghanistan.
Fatema’s personal journey as a displaced person shaped her lifelong commitment to human rights and justice. Her work has been so incredibly impactful. She’s done everything from developing national anti-trafficking frameworks to working with victims and survivors. She’s been involved in grassroots action and high-level policy, and she’s made such a positive difference.
A former Fulbright Humphrey Fellow, Fatema reflects on how the fellowship equipped her with tools and global perspectives that she later applied directly in Afghanistan, especially during its peace process. Now though out of Afghanistan, she continues her work through a leading Afghan human rights organization, driving efforts for accountability and justice for victims of human rights abuses.
During her time as a research fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute, Fatema is focusing on children’s rights in Afghanistan, a topic often overlooked in policy debates. In this conversation, she discusses how generations of war, displacement, and oppression are affecting Afghan children today, and how evidence-based research can support change on both local and international levels.
“We’re thinking about them, we are researching about them, and we hope we can change their life, and advocating for their rights.”
Join us to hear Fatema’s perspective on justice, advocacy, and why amplifying the voices of vulnerable communities is essential for building a better future.