OTTAWA: NOV 10, 2022
Earlier on Twitter, Ambassador Hassan Soroosh extended his gratitude to @OmaidSharifi , @ArtLordsNet and @szazai__ for another great effort to introduce Afghanistan’s diversity and cultural richness and promote a narrative of hope, justice and pluralism through their inspiring artwork. Ambassador Soroosh also expressed his gratefulness to the Aga Khan Museum for hosting this exhibition.
OTTAWA: OCT. 30. 2022
Earlier on Twitter, Ambassador Soroosh wrote the following:
"The Taliban continue to impose some of the most repressive policies against women & girls. This morning, female students were banned to enter a university in Badakhshan and some of them were whipped by the Taliban. Afghan women and girls remain resilient and deserve our support."
ON SEPT 21. 2022 THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION RECONGNIZED FOUR CHAMPIONS MAKING AN IMPACT TOWARD THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS.
A Changemaker Awarded to Zahra Joya from Afghanistan
A journalist from Afghanistan, Zahra Joya founded and self-funded Rukhshana Media, an online news agency focused exclusively on covering issues that affect women of Afghanistan—the first national news organization of its kind.
Through Rukhshana Media, Zahra is ensuring that women’s stories and issues in Afghanistan are reported on and brought to the attention of a wider public.
The Rukhshana Media team of journalists report on women’s issues as a way to create debates, inform, analyze, and investigate issues related to their lives. Rukhshana Media also works to provide educational and professional opportunities for women journalists.
In August 2021, Zahra had to flee Afghanistan. Now living as a refugee in the UK, she continues to actively manage Rukhshana Media and her team remotely, publishing their reports about women’s life under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Rukhshana Media has partnered with British newspaper The Guardian to bring their stories to a global audience. This year, marking the one-year anniversary since the Taliban returned to power, they also partnered with TIME magazine to highlight the stories of women who left Afghanistan.
On October 06, 2022, Ambassador Hassan Soroosh participated as a keynote speaker in the virtual event of the University Women Helping Afghan Women (UWHAW).
Ambassador Soroosh spoke about the current tragic situation in Afghanistan including the humanitarian crisis and human rights situation with a focus on the situation of women and girls who are denied the fundamental rights to education, employment, freedom of movement, expression and participation in public life.
Ambassador Soroosh stressed the importance of providing advocacy platforms and venues for Afghan women and girls as well as other support opportunities including for women-owned businesses in Afghanistan. He also highlighted the significance of greater humanitarian support and the need for an effective human rights monitoring and investigation mechanism.
Ambassador Soroosh expressed his gratefulness to the Government of Canada for all the ongoing humanitarian, advocacy and resettlement support for Afghanistan.
He extended his gratitude to UWHAW for its sustained commitment to Afghanistan and for all its previous and ongoing efforts to empower Afghan women through advocacy and education.
Earlier on Twitter, Ambassador Hassan Soroosh stated the following:
"The courageous Afghan women in Herat, Bamyan and Kabul are protesting following the recent cowardly terrorist attack on Kaj Institute. Afghan women and girls are at the forefront of the struggle for human rights in Afghanistan."
The Embassy of Afghanistan in Ottawa hosted a reception in honor of the participants of the Afghan/Canadian Women’s Symposium which was held on the same day in Ottawa.
During the reception, Ambassador Hassan Soroosh spoke about the current tragic situation in Afghanistan and stressed the need for greater support to courageous Afghan women and girls who remain resilient and at the forefront of the struggle for human rights.
Ambassador Soroosh expressed his gratefulness to Canada and the rest of our international partners for all the ongoing humanitarian, advocacy and resettlement support for Afghanistan. He also thanked the organizers and participants of the symposium for their sustained advocacy efforts in support of Afghan women and girls.
Ms. Narges Nehan, former Minister of Mines and Petroleum of Afghanistan and Ms. Zarqha Yaftali, Director of Women and Children Legal Research Foundation spoke about the outcomes of the symposium, the need for effective follow-up and the importance of collective efforts in support of Afghan women and girls.

