Sima Samar

Early life

Following the Soviet-backed coup, in 1979 her husband, his three brothers and more than 60 other family members disappeared and were never seen again. After graduating from Kabul University Medical College in 1982. She then practised medicine at a government hospital in Kabul, but after a few months was forced to flee for her safety to her native Jaghori where she provided medical treatment to patients throughout the remote areas of Central Afghanistan.

In 1984, she went to Pakistan for the education of her young son. After working as a doctor at the refugee branch of the Mission Hospital in Quetta, Pakistan, and distressed by the total lack of health care facilities for Afghan refugee women, she started a hospital for Afghan refugee women and children in Quetta.

Shuhada Organization

In 1989, Samar formally established the Shuhada Organization and Shuhada Clinic.  Upon receiving the Right Livelihood Award, The Shuhada Organization operated 12 clinics and 3 hospitals in Afghanistan, all dedicated to the provision of health care to the Afghan population and particularly to women and girls. In addition, the Shuhada Organization ran nurse, community health worker and traditional birth attendant training programmes and reproductive health education projects.

In 2012, the Shuhada Organization also operated 71 schools for girls and boys in Afghanistan and 34 schools for Afghan refugees in Quetta, Pakistan.

During the Taliban regime, Shuhada’s schools in Central Afghanistan were among the few academic girls’ primary schools; the organisation’s girls’ high schools were the only high schools that girls were able to attend in the country. The Shuhada Organization also ran underground home school classes for girls in Kabul. Following the collapse of the Taliban, these home school classes became the basis for two schools for girls that now teach more than 3,000 students and were handed over to the government.

In addition, the Shuhada Organization ran English and computer courses, and income generation and adult literacy programmes for women in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Shuhada Organization also had established shelters for vulnerable women, which provided a safe living and learning environment for women who had no guardians, were at risk from violence, were poor and not able to earn a living. The goal was to provide them not only with shelter and food but also with opportunities for education and training so that they can have better lives and eventually be able to support themselves.

From 1989-2011, Shuhada’s health programmes benefited over 3.3 million people. The organisation’ education programmes reached 176,000 people and its vocational training around 6,000 people. Up until 2011, Shuhada had also provided human rights trainings to 220,000 people.

Minister of Women’s Affairs

In 2001, Dr Samar returned to Afghanistan, where she served as the Deputy Chair and Minister of Women’s Affairs for the Interim Administration of Afghanistan from December 2001 until June 2002. Sima Samar was one of only two women cabinet ministers in the transition government. She then was elected as the vice-chair of the Emergency Loya Jirga in 2003.

During the Interim Administration, Dr Samar established the first-ever Afghanistan Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Under her leadership, the Ministry began advocacy, training and service programmes to help restore the rights of women and to improve their economic, political, legal and social status. Among other accomplishments, the Ministry won the right of women government employees to return to their jobs and to keep their seniority after maternity leave, secured the representation of women as 11% of the Loya Jirga delegates, oversaw the re-entry of girls to schools, and launched a women’s rights legal department.

Promoting human rights

The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) was set up in 2002 and constitutionalised in 2004. Samar was appointed its first chairperson. Since its inception, the AIHRC has reported on pressing challenges including issues of civilian casualties, the realisation of economic and social rights and the status of women. One of the most important reports that the AIHRC has published is ‘Call for Justice’ which examines past human rights crimes and abuses in Afghanistan.

AIHRC’s focus has been to strengthen the rule of law and end a culture of impunity. Because of her relentless calls for accountability for human rights violations of the past and the present, Samar is an anathema to many of the human rights violators who hold office in Afghanistan today. Having received several death threats as a result of persevering in her work, Samar is today always accompanied by bodyguards in Afghanistan.

From 2005-2009 Samar also served as the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights for Sudan.

Empowering future generations

Fervently believing that education is the key to socio-economic development and sustaining a civil society in countries like Afghanistan, Samar has established the non-profit Gawharshad Institute of Higher Education (GSIHE). The Institute initially offered training in the fields of political science, political sociology, economic planning, as well as leadership and administration in education. Its aim was to provide greater opportunities for women, poor and marginalised students through tuition subsidies and scholarships.

Various aspects of Samar’s work have been recognised over the years by a number of international awards, including the 1994 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership and the 2004 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights. Additionally, she was conferred with a Doctor of Humane Letters (hon.) by Brown University in May 2005.

In 2019, she was appointed Special Envoy and State Minister for Human Rights and International Relations in Afghanistan. A position she held until the end of 2020.