Women’s Peace Leadership Programme: Maryam Ranjbar, Afghanistan

Previously a regional coordinator in inclusive peace projects and a legal counsellor, Maryam has worked with survivors of gender-based violence who were seeking help from a local Family Protection Centre managed by the International Medical Corps. Although she had to flee Afghanistan in 2021, Maryam continues to support women and girls in the country.

While being part of the OSCE Women’s Peace Leadership Programme, Maryam graduated from the American University of Central Asia with an L.L.M in International Law and is determined to continue her practice as a human rights defender, advancing the fundamental rights of Afghan women.

Childhood aspirations

As a child, when we visited rural areas in my country, I encountered many instances of women’s rights deprivations. I remember seeing a young mother, desperately trying to connect with her son who stubbornly resisted her efforts to communicate. But when an elder family member reiterated her request, the boy complied. Another vivid memory is of a woman in tears, opposing her teenage daughter's early marriage, which was ultimately determined by male authorities. Even back then, men in many areas of the country had more favourable prospects than women. I knew that I would come back to these areas and work to make things better.

While working as a gender-based violence specialist and as a legal counsellor, I wanted to support these women no matter what. People there were surprised I dared to speak to men – it was not common at all. On several occasions, I also wanted men relatives of the women we consulted to join our conversations, but the colleagues wouldn’t let me do that for security reasons. Because of my education and the work that I did, I was subjected to many threats. But I was determined to study and to work, so that later I could use the experience and knowledge I gained to become a parliamentarian and represent Afghan women.

Seeking justice for women

This is not just about me - all Afghan women hope to have the opportunities that they are denied in Afghanistan right now. I grew up in a family that valued education, but it’s also about access to basic rights – right to life, to move freely, to have a voice, to make choices – that all women are entitled to.

My country has been entangled in conflict for the past four decades. People have endured the pain of losing loved ones, essential liberties, and fundamental rights. With my work, I want to foster the awareness that women deserve not only respect and dignity but also should play pivotal roles in society. Women are capable of contributing to a nation's progress as effectively as men. I believe that addressing these concerns would make people think and live according to the values of an open, democratic government.

Let girls learn

Although I no longer live in my country, I was able to implement several projects for women and girls who continue to live there. For almost a year, we offered online English classes for female students from universities and schools. They were so happy about this project. In 2022, I also implemented several smaller projects like capacity-building symposia for women on their roles in decision-making processes. All that would not be possible now.

I have been always saying: let girls learn and work to become doctors, teachers, decision-makers and members of parliament. Who knows, maybe one woman in your family or community that you helped and empowered will someday change the country.

Thriving sisterhood

Throughout the year, I got tremendous support from my mentors and fellow mentees in the WPLP. I would reach out to my mentors any time of day and could always rely on getting a prompt response. They were remarkably supportive, and their guidance and availability remained unwavering.

I will miss this programme which gave me so much more than I expected. Now I see myself as a peacebuilder with the broad set of skills that this role requires. There were moments during the year when I lost hope, but then I would hear from my fellow mentees - whether in one of the programme sessions or simply through our WhatsApp exchanges – and I’d feel strong, knowing that I am surrounded by the most powerful women I’ve ever known and I should follow in their footsteps.

They wouldn’t give up, so neither will I.

Maryam is one of the 12 mentees from around the OSCE area and Afghanistan, participating in the OSCE Women’s Peace Leadership Programme 2022-2023, an initiative of the OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid. The Programme aims to strengthen the ability of women to meaningfully engage and influence peace processes at all levels. It is a part of the OSCE’s flagship WIN for Women and Men project, which covers the Networking platform for Women Leaders including Peacebuilders and Mediators. The WIN project works with OSCE-supported networks and gives rise to new networks, fostering women’s participation and leadership, as well as broader men’s engagement in achieving gender equality.