A voice to denounce horror


At the meeting, more than 130 Afghan leaders and activists, including those from exile, the diaspora and women’s resistance movements inside and outside the country, discussed strategies to confront the Taliban regime’s repression and promote coordinated international action. The summit was supported by organisations and governments from around the world, including the Albanian, Spanish and Swiss governments. The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, stated that “the voice of Afghan women should be heard loud and clear in all forums where the future of Afghanistan is decided”, and added that the Spanish Government “supports accountability for human rights violations under international law”.
The summit participants agreed on a declaration of twelve guidelines and demands, with which they hope the international community will respond to the systematic attack on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls by the Taliban.
Massouda at the UB
Massouda Kohistani arrived in Spain, specifically in Salamanca, in August 2021. In February 2022, she applied for a grant to take the UB’s Transition Course to University Studies. This official university extension course focuses on learning Catalan and Spanish and training in human rights. After passing this course, in October 2023, Massouda started the master’s degree in Public Policy: Global Security and the Prevention of Violent Extremism at the Faculty of Law. Throughout this time, Massouda has been active in denouncing the violation of women’s human rights in Afghanistan by the Taliban Government.
UB Refugi provides safe and complementary pathways to resettlement
Since 2016, through study grants, the UB’s Support Programme for refugees and people from conflict zones (UB Refugi) has helped around a hundred undergraduate and master’s degree students from different countries in conflict, such as Afghanistan, Palestine, Syria, Somalia, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Thanks to these grants, which are part of what the UNHCR calls “safe and complementary pathways to resettlement”, students have been able to leave their countries of origin or first host countries and continue their education and life in Barcelona.
The UB Refugi Programme has the support of Barcelona City Council and, in terms of accommodation, has an agreement with Viladecans Town Council whereby some students can live in a shared flat in the municipality and thus advance in the process of personal autonomy and social inclusion.