Samira Hamidi

I was the director of the Afghan Women’s Network (AWN), which includes more than 91 women’s organizations and 5,000 individuals. Working with civil society organizations, government, and UN agencies, I have brought together thousands of voices to raise the visibility of women in Afghanistan through advocacy and networking initiatives. 

I have organized consultations across the country to enhance women’s ability to advocate for their participation in events that will shape the new Afghanistan, such as the 2010 National Peace Consultative Jirga, the 2010 Kabul International Conference, the 2011 Bonn Conference, the 2011 Loya Jirga, 2012 Tokyo Conference, and the formation of the High Peace Council. 
I previously served as a gender coordinator for the UN Development Programme and advocated successfully for the creation of a department within the Ministry of Interior to ensure that gender is considered in every policy decision. I organized the first trainings for senior ministry officials on UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which requires that women be fully involved in every part of a peace process, and I led a six-week course for more than 300 police officers on ending violence against women. 
I received my bachelor’s degree in business administration from Preston University in Pakistan and am certified to train others using The Institute for Inclusive Security’s Women Waging Peace Curriculum. I received a national award in 2010 acknowledging AWN’s critical role in the peace process and received the Presidential Medal for my participation in the National Peace Consultative Jirga. 
I currently study International Human Rights Law at the University of York, UK, and I have engaged myself with Sistaenable, because I believe in the global impact of the sistaenable ways.